Search
Close this search box.
Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals
Volusia Speedway Park | Barberville, Florida
Thursday, February 09, 2023
Race Recap  

FIRST BLOOD: David Gravel Strikes First, Wins 2023 World of Outlaws Season Opener

David Gravel‘s pursuit of the 2023 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series championship couldn’t have started any better than it did on Friday evening – in Victory Lane at Volusia Speedway Park.

Advancing from fourth to first, the Watertown, CT native quickly pounced during the make-up of Thursday’s postponed program. He drove the Big Game Motorsports, Huset’s Speedway #2 to the point on Lap 11 when he made the most of traffic hindering early leader Anthony Macri.

The final 15 laps were a breeze for the 30-year-old, who drove off into the Florida sun to collect his 77th career win with The Greatest Show on Dirt – currently ranking 12th on the All-Time Win List. The win was Gravel’s third at the Barberville, FL 1/2-mile and his second at the track in World of Outlaws competition.

“I really wanted to race last night after how good our car was in the Dash, but I obviously can’t complain now,” Gravel said in Victory Lane. “You never know when you race early in the day like this, so I was a bit anxious about how it would play out. It’s tough on the equipment being wide open like that, but Brian Morrison builds us a great engine. I was actually trying to save tear-offs as much as I could, that was one of my biggest concerns. Cody [Jacobs], Scott [Vogelsong], and Zach [Patterson] are firing on all cylinders right now. It’s awesome to start the year this way.”

Gravel is now leading the way to claim his third DIRTcar Nationals Big Gator Championship. [Trent Gower]
With two DIRTcar Nationals Features remaining on Friday and Saturday night, Gravel now leads the overall points as he chases back-to-back Big Gator Championships. He currently leads Carson Macedo (-2 PTS), Logan Schuchart (-6 PTS), Brad Sweet (-22 PTS), and Buddy Kofoid (-26 PTS).

Making a late-race pass to secure runner-up honors on Friday evening was 21-year-old native of Penngrove, CA, Buddy Kofoid, who is making his first appearance at Volusia Speedway Park this week. It’s already his third podium through only 25 starts with the World of Outlaws.

“We’ve been decent and getting better and better as the week goes on,” Kofoid said. “Leighton [Crouch] has given Brad [Alexander], Stephen [Hamm-Reilly], Jakob [Weaver], and I the best operation we could ask for. These half-miles are hard, especially with the Outlaws, so this feels really good to land on the podium.”

After failing to qualify for Wednesday’s show with the All-Star Circuit of Champions, Danny Dietrich, of Gettysburg, PA completed an impressive turnaround by driving the Gary Kauffman Racing #48 to his 18th career podium with the World of Outlaws. He started from the outside pole and ran second for much of the 25-lapper, but ultimately slipped back to finish third in the closing stages.

“We chose a gear to get up on the top and get going, but I wasn’t able to turn off the curb and get the momentum I needed,” Dietrich noted. “I’m probably too fat to get around here as fast as David does, but this is nothing to complain about. My guys have worked their asses off all week long and after starting as bad as we did, this feels awesome.”

Updated Career Podium Totals – David Gravel (192nd), Buddy Kofoid (3rd), Danny Dietrich (18th). [Trent Gower]
Sheldon Haudenschild in the Stenhouse Jr. / Marshall Racing, NOS Energy Drink #17 and Logan Schuchart in the Shark Racing, DuraMAX Oil #1S rounded out the top five in Thursday’s make-up Feature.

Closing out the top-10 in the season opener was Canada’s Robbie Price in the Sides Motorsports #7S, Pennsylvania’s Brent Marks in the Murray-Marks #19, Indiana’s Zeb Wise in the Rudeen Racing #26, California’s Carson Macedo in the Jason Johnson Racing #41, and Texas’ Aaron Reutzel in the RSR #8.

NOS Notebook (Volusia Speedway Park, 2/10/23)

David Gravel‘s 77th career World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory brings him only two away from tying Brad Sweet for 11th on the All-Time Win List. It’s his second Series win at Volusia Speedway Park, and third overall win at the DIRTcar Nationals.

The first Low-E Insulation Qualifying session of 2023 was topped by Anthony Macri, clocking a lap of 13.420 seconds around Volusia’s 1/2-mile. It’s his fifth career World of Outlaws QuickTime Award.

CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat 1 went to Logan Schuchart (107th career), while NOS Energy Drink Heats 2-4 were won by Brent Marks (27th career), Buddy Kofoid (3rd career), and David Gravel (209th career). Macri won the Toyota Dash, while Bayston won the MicroLite Last Chance Showdown.

After performing nearly flawlessly through preliminary programs, Anthony Macri led the opening 10 laps of the Feature before Gravel passed him on Lap 11. He held the runner-up spot until a mechanical issue forced him to the infield with a DNF on Lap 17.

Through three of five scheduled Features, the top contenders for the Big Gator Championship are David Gravel (424 PTS), Carson Macedo (-2 PTS), Logan Schuchart (-6 PTS), Brad Sweet (-22 PTS), and Buddy Kofoid (-26 PTS).

UP NEXT (Fri-Sat) – The 52nd annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals continues on Friday and Saturday at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, FL. The NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars will race for a $16,000-to-win program both nights as the Big Gator Championship is concluded. For fans unable to attend, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

NOS Energy Drink Feature Results (25 Laps) – 1. 2-David Gravel[4]; 2. 11-Michael Kofoid[3]; 3. 48-Danny Dietrich[2]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[7]; 6. 7S-Robbie Price[5]; 7. 19-Brent Marks[8]; 8. 26-Zeb Wise[10]; 9. 41-Carson Macedo[11]; 10. 8-Aaron Reutzel[9]; 11. 9-Kasey Kahne[12]; 12. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[19]; 13. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[14]; 14. 15-Donny Schatz[17]; 15. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[16]; 16. 5-Spencer Bayston[21]; 17. 21-Brian Brown[13]; 18. 83-James McFadden[24]; 19. 49-Brad Sweet[20]; 20. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[26]; 21. 1A-Jacob Allen[23]; 22. 9P-Parker Price Miller[22]; 23. 11K-Kraig Kinser[27]; 24. 20G-Noah Gass[15]; 25. 39M-Anthony Macri[1]; 26. 17B-Bill Balog[18]; 27. 6-Bill Rose[25]; 28. 5D-Jacob Dykstra[28]. Lap Leader(s): Anthony Macri 1-10; David Gravel 11-25. KSE Hard Charger Award: Brock Zearfoss +7.

NEW Championship Standings (1/87 Races) – 1. 2-David Gravel (150); 2. 11-Buddy Kofoid (-4); 3. 48-Danny Dietrich (-6); 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild (-8); 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart (-10); 6. 7S-Robbie Price (-12); 7. 19-Brent Marks (-14); 8. 26-Zeb Wise (-16); 9. 41-Carson Macedo (-18); 10. 8-Aaron Reutzel (-20).

[Read More]
Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
14+32David Gravel 250.00015Running150$10,000
23+111Michael Kofoid 25-2.830Running146$6,000
32-148Danny Dietrich 25-3.220Running144$3,500
46+217Sheldon Haudenschild 25-4.038Running142$2,800
57+21SLogan Schuchart 25-5.022Running140$2,500
65-17SRobbie Price 25-5.995Running138$2,300
78+119Brent Marks 25-6.528Running136$2,200
810+226Zeb Wise 25-6.775Running134$2,100
911+241Carson Macedo 25-7.962Running132$2,050
109-18Aaron Reutzel 25-8.930Running130$2,000
1112+19Kasey Kahne 25-9.028Running128$1,600
1219+73ZBrock Zearfoss 25-9.965Running126$1,400
1314+115HSam Hafertepe Jr25-10.729Running124$1,200
1417+315Donny Schatz 25-10.929Running122$1,100
1516+155Hunter Schuerenberg 25-12.236Running120$1,050
1621+55Spencer Bayston 25-12.299Running118$1,000
1713-421Brian Brown 25-12.667Running116$1,000
1824+683James McFadden 25-12.985Running114$0
1920+149Brad Sweet 25-14.128Running112$1,000
2026+618Giovanni Scelzi 24-1 LapsRunning110$0
2123+21AJacob Allen 24-1 LapsRunning108$1,000
222209PParker Price-Miller 24-1 LapsRunning106$1,000
2327+411KKraig Kinser 24-1 LapsRunning104$0
2415-920GNoah Gass 18-7 LapsDNF102$1,000
251-2439MAnthony Macri 16-9 Laps10DNF102$1,000
2618-817BBill Balog 15-10 LapsDNF102$1,000
2725-26Bill Rose 13-12 LapsDNF102$0
282805DJacob Dykstra 0-25 LapsDNF102$1,000
KSE Hard Charger: Brock Zearfoss
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
16+55Spencer Bayston 120.0002Running0$0
2205DJacob Dykstra 12-1.410Running0$0
3309PParker Price-Miller 12-1.796Running0$0
47+31AJacob Allen 12-1.868Running0$0
54-155BAlex Bowman 12-2.553Running90$300
69+383James McFadden 12-2.740Running0$250
78+17BCTyler Courtney 12-3.208Running90$225
812+413Justin Peck 12-3.574Running90$200
910+111KKraig Kinser 12-4.040Running0$200
1015+518Giovanni Scelzi 12-4.285Running0$200
115-65TRyan Timms 12-4.579Running90$200
1213+122Riley Goodno 12-4.837Running90$200
1314+144Chris Martin 12-5.397Running90$200
1411-397UKRyan Harrison 12-6.084Running90$200
1516+16Bill Rose 11-1 LapsRunning0$200
161-1571Cory Eliason 10-2 Laps10DNF90$200
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+139MAnthony Macri 60.0005Running0$0
21-148Danny Dietrich 6-1.9651Running0$0
34+111Michael Kofoid 6-2.786Running0$0
47+32David Gravel 6-3.250Running0$0
53-27SRobbie Price 6-4.662Running0$0
66017Sheldon Haudenschild 6-4.951Running0$0
75-21SLogan Schuchart 6-5.561Running0$0
88019Brent Marks 6-6.609Running0$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+11SLogan Schuchart 80.0008Running
21-139MAnthony Macri 8-1.945Running
34+18Aaron Reutzel 8-4.731Running
43-121Brian Brown 8-8.751Running
55015Donny Schatz 8-8.891Running
67+19PParker Price-Miller 8-9.862Running
76-11AJacob Allen 8-10.751Running
88011KKraig Kinser 8-11.731Running
99044Chris Martin 8-13.654Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+119Brent Marks 80.0006Running
24+248Danny Dietrich 8-2.114Running
36+326Zeb Wise 8-3.312Running
45+115HSam Hafertepe Jr8-4.584Running
58+317BBill Balog 8-5.909Running
67+155BAlex Bowman 8-6.908Running
73-45DJacob Dykstra 8-8.421Running
89+197UKRyan Harrison 8-10.392Running
91-871Cory Eliason 2-6 Laps2DNF
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11011Michael Kofoid 80.0008Running
2207SRobbie Price 8-3.426Running
36+341Carson Macedo 8-4.321Running
44020GNoah Gass 8-5.802Running
58+33ZBrock Zearfoss 8-6.969Running
63-35TRyan Timms 8-7.740Running
7707BCTyler Courtney 8-9.051Running
85-313Justin Peck 8-9.743Running
99018Giovanni Scelzi 8-10.612Running
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1102David Gravel 80.0008Running
24+217Sheldon Haudenschild 8-1.366Running
32-19Kasey Kahne 8-4.408Running
43-155Hunter Schuerenberg 8-5.870Running
56+149Brad Sweet 8-6.832Running
65-15Spencer Bayston 8-7.989Running
77083James McFadden 8-8.755Running
88022Riley Goodno 8-10.784Running
9906Bill Rose 7-1 LapsRunning
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1539MAnthony Macri Dillsburg, PA13.4200.000
2171Cory Eliason Visalia, CA13.445-0.025
3611Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA13.510-0.090
482David Gravel Watertown, CT13.579-0.159
5101SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.649-0.229
61219Brent Marks Myerstown, PA13.726-0.306
747SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC13.742-0.322
8159Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA13.781-0.361
91921Brian Brown Higginsville, MO13.815-0.395
1025DJacob Dykstra Port Colborne, ON13.837-0.417
1135TRyan Timms Oklahoma City, OK13.853-0.433
121855Hunter Schuerenberg Sikeston, MO13.871-0.451
1378Aaron Reutzel Clute, TX13.892-0.472
142548Danny Dietrich Gettysburg, PA13.912-0.492
151620GNoah Gass Mounds, OK13.931-0.511
163417Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.933-0.513
172215Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.957-0.537
181115HSam Hafertepe JrSunnyvale, TX13.960-0.540
192413Justin Peck Monrovia, IN13.964-0.544
20175Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN13.968-0.548
21231AJacob Allen Hanover, PA13.988-0.568
222826Zeb Wise Angola, IN13.995-0.575
233141Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.999-0.579
242949Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA14.021-0.601
25369PParker Price-Miller Kokomo, IN14.038-0.618
262055BAlex Bowman Tucson, AZ14.050-0.630
27217BCTyler Courtney Indianapolis, IN14.052-0.632
283083James McFadden Alice Springs, NT14.083-0.663
293511KKraig Kinser Bloomington, IN14.096-0.676
302717BBill Balog North Pole, AK14.111-0.691
31323ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA14.248-0.828
321322Riley Goodno Knoxville, IA14.378-0.958
33944Chris Martin Ankeny, IA14.402-0.982
343397UKRyan Harrison Rothwell, NTH14.441-1.021
352618Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA14.508-1.088
36146Bill Rose Plainfield, IN15.763-2.343
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals
Thursday, February 09, 2023
Volusia Speedway Park
1500 East State Road 40
Barberville, Florida 32130 

Event Description
Kick off the racing season with two full weeks of racing in Florida at the World's Fastest Half-Mile, Volusia Speedway Park!

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

Support Divisions
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds

To Win Amount
$10,000.00

Feature Laps Length
30

Event Schedule
UPDATE: 4:30PM GATE TIME ON FRIDAY

1PM Pit Gates open
5PM Grandstand Gates open
5:15PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
7PM RACING

See Detailed Schedule
*All times Eastern

Event Hashtag
#FLinFeb

Ticket Options  
Options And Prices
TICKETS

Grandstand Type
Bleachers, Chairbacks

Handicapped Seating Location
All Handicap seating is the first rows of each section

Pit Age Requirement
There is no age restriction in the pits. Anyone 17 years of age or younger will need to fill out a minor waiver form and be accompanied by an adult.

Pit Gate Location
East or West side of the Track.

Parking Cost
General Parking Free

Handicapped Parking Location
Handicap parking spots available. All spots are first come first serve.

Camping Availability
electric hookup, non-electric, onsite, sanitary facility, showers

Camping Cost
$30 a day for dry camping, $80 for electric/water/sewer.

Frequently Asked Questions  
Support Divisions
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds

To Win Amount
$10,000.00

Type of Grandstand
Bleachers, Chairbacks

Stadium Seating
Stadium seats are allowed as long as they don't conflict with the aisle behind you.

Handicapped Seating
All Handicap seating is the first rows of each section

Handicapped Parking
Handicap parking spots available. All spots are first come first serve.

Pit Age Limit
There is no age restriction in the pits. Anyone 17 years of age or younger will need to fill out a minor waiver form and be accompanied by an adult.

Pit Gate Location
East or West side of the Track.

Personal Coolers
Six-pack maximum cooler size. No alcohol. No glass.

ATMs
1

Credit Card Use
Pit Gate, Ticket Window

Alcohol Sales
Beer is available for purchase at the track.

Smoking Policy
No smoking in the Grandstands.


Parking Cost
General Parking Free

Camping Availability
electric hookup, non-electric, onsite, sanitary facility, showers

Camping Cost
$30 a day for dry camping, $80 for electric/water/sewer.

Track Info  

Volusia Speedway Park
1500 East State Road 40
Barberville, Florida 32130 

Track Phone
(386) 985-4402

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Size
0.482

Track Type
D-shaped oval

Sprint Car Track Record
12.569s by Paul McMahan on 2-10-11; 360 Sprint Car: 14.160 sec. by Brenham Crouch on Jan. 27, 2023; Non-Wing: 16.362s by Thomas Meseraull on Feb. 14, 2023

Late Model Track Record
Super: 15.100 sec. by Bobby Pierce on Jan. 19, 2024

Closest Airport
Daytona International Airport

Other Airport
Orlando Sanford

Pit Gate Location
East or West side of the Track.

Track Map
Competitor Info  
Competitor Downloads
 https://www.dirtcarmembers.com/downloads.php

Tire Rules
Must use the same set of 4 tires for Qualifying, Heat Races, and Last Chance Showdowns:
Left Rear/Fronts - Hoosier (90) NLMT1
Right Rear - Hoosier (92) NLMT2, (92) LM20
For the Feature, competitors may use 3 new tires:
Left Rear/Fronts - Hoosier (90) NLMT1, (90) NLMT2, (90) LM20, (90) NLMT3, (90) LM30
Right Rear - Hoosier (92) NLMT2, (92) LM20, (92) NLMT3, (92) LM30
*Grooving and Siping is allowed.
*Flat tire MUST be replaced with a used tire of the same compound and construction to retain starting position.


Which Schedule Would You like to Print?

2022_CASE_LMS_LOGO.png

Which Schedule Would You like to Add to Your Calendar

2022_CASE_LMS_LOGO