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Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals
Skagit Speedway | Burlington, Washington
Saturday, September 02, 2023
Race Recap  

TASTE OF SWEET VICTORY: Brad Sweet Roars to the Win in Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals Finale

Thursday ended in bitter defeat for Brad Sweet at Skagit Speedway. But the Grass Valley, CA native had no intentions of the same fate on Saturday as he found the taste of sweet victory.

Two days after Sheldon Haudenschild slipped by him on the final circuit, Sweet found himself in a similar spot leading late with Corey Day breathing down his neck. This time, though, Sweet would not be denied as he held off the teenage sensation on his way to Victory Lane at the Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals.

After the tough loss Thursday and running 10th Friday, Sweet saved his best for the last and most important day as the win came with a hefty $26,000 paycheck for the driver of the Kasey Kahne Racing/Napa Auto Parts #49.

“I get tired of getting passed late in these races,” Sweet said. “I saw the 14 (Day) climbing the board, and I saw the top getting cleaner and cleaner. Typically, he’s kind of one of those guys that’ll find a line. I’ve watched a lot of video, and he always seems to make a lot of speed on the cushion. I was a little nervous. I felt really good on the bottom, but you don’t really know what’s up there until you go up there. So, I tried it one lap and realized my car wasn’t as good up there, so I had to pretty much commit to the bottom. You keep your tires cooler on the bottom, so I felt like even if he stayed with me for a few laps his tires would get hot. It was a lot more challenging to make speed on the cushion. I just tried to hit my lines and drive as hard as I possibly could those last 10 laps. Just happy to be in Victory Lane.”

Sweet’s 2023 win total with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars grew to seven, giving him sole possession of the second most this season. His career win total rose to 86, putting him in a tie with former teammate – Daryn Pittman – and David Gravel for ninth on the all-time list. Two of those 86 checkered flags have come courtesy of Skagit.

And most importantly, the current point leader added some more cushion to his lead as he pursues a fifth straight title.

The 35-lap Feature was led to green by James McFadden and Sheldon Haudenschild after the duo finished first and second in the Toyota Racing Dash. When the green lights brought the field to life, McFadden rolled ahead to lead the opening lap.

Sweet started third and quickly got on the move as he threw a slide job at Haudenschild to take over second on Lap 2 but Haudenschild countered with a crossover. Three laps later Sweet rolled by the NOS Energy Drink #17 to regain control of runner-up and held onto the spot.

Shortly after claiming second, “The Big Cat” began the hunt for the lead. Up ahead, McFadden stayed committed to the top while Sweet stayed glued to the bottom. As they began to work through traffic, Sweet found the opening he needed on Lap 8 as he slipped under the Australian to grab the lead.

With the top spot secured, Sweet began to check out. The four-time and defending Series champion expertly worked through traffic as the margin between him and McFadden grew.

It wasn’t until late in the race that a challenger arose to face off with Sweet. Fresh off his third career World of Outlaws podium on Friday, Corey Day flexed his muscle early on in Saturday’s main event by starting 10th and cracking the top five on the eighth circuit. Then shortly after a restart with 12 laps to go, Day banged the cushion around Roth Motorsports teammates – Buddy Kofoid and James McFadden – to jump into second.

A restart with eight laps to go put the Clovis, CA phenom on the tail tank of Sweet for a quick dash to the finish.

Brad Sweet races in front of Corey Day
Brad Sweet had to hold off a hard charging Corey Day for the Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals title (Trent Gower Photo)

When the green flag flew, Sweet, knowing Day must’ve been making speed on the top – abandoned the bottom for a set of corners to test the waters on the cushion. Day drew alongside in Turns 1 and 2, but Sweet was able to pull ahead down the back straightaway and shut the door entering Turn 3.

Day returned to the cushion and gathered enough momentum to close in multiple times. From laps 27 through 32, the gap between the two was less than half a second each time they crossed the line. But unfortunately for Day, a small mistake on Lap 33 in Turn 2 allowed Sweet to pull away to nearly a second lead. Sweet stayed comfortably ahead over the final two laps to claim the Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals.

“We’ve gotten passed on the last lap three or four times this year it seems like and should’ve won more races,” Sweet said. “But we all stick together and win together and lose together. Tonight, all the hard work paid off. We had a great car all weekend, and to come out on top on the final night is what it’s all about.”

Day held onto the second spot to notch back-to-back World of Outlaws podiums after a third on Friday. The 17-year-old is up to four podiums in only 17 Series starts driving the Jason Meyers Racing #14. Saturday provided more evidence that a win with The Greatest Show on Dirt isn’t a matter of if for Day, but when.

Completing the top three was early race leader – James McFadden. He couldn’t hold back Sweet and Day after pacing the opening seven laps but did hold on for his eighth podium of the season aboard the Roth Motorsports #83.

Buddy Kofoid and David Gravel rounded out the top five.

Corey Day’s drive from 10th to second earned him the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

For the third time in 2023 and 16th time in his career, Rico Abreu claimed Simpson Performance QuickTime Award.

CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat One went to Abreu (42nd Heat Race win of career). NOS Energy Drink Heats Two through Four were topped by James McFadden (48th of career), Carson Macedo (110th of career), and Buddy Kofoid (13th of career).

James McFadden won the Toyota Racing Dash.

The Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown belonged to Robbie Price.

After running up front in the Feature but getting upside down, Sheldon Haudenschild was given the Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars stay in the state of Washington but move to Elma’s Grays Harbor Raceway on Monday, September 4 for a Labor Day battle. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet[3]; 2. 14-Corey Day[10]; 3. 83-James McFadden[1]; 4. 83JR-Michael Kofoid[5]; 5. 2-David Gravel[9]; 6. 24-Rico Abreu[8]; 7. 5-Spencer Bayston[4]; 8. 18S-Jason Solwold[11]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz[16]; 10. 9-Kasey Kahne[6]; 11. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 12. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[14]; 13. 1S-Logan Schuchart[19]; 14. 2X-Justin Sanders[18]; 15. 55-Trey Starks[12]; 16. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[15]; 17. 7S-Robbie Price[21]; 18. 95-Justin Youngquist[24]; 19. 96-Greg Hamilton[17]; 20. 21-Cole Macedo[23]; 21. (DNF) 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[20]; 22. (DNF) 1T-Tanner Holmes[13]; 23. (DNF) 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[2]; 24. (DNF) 99-Eric Fisher[22]

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Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
13+249Brad Sweet 350.00028Running150$26,000
210+814Corey Day 35-0.882Running146$8,000
31-283James McFadden 35-2.7177Running144$4,000
45+183JRMichael Kofoid 35-3.248Running142$3,000
59+42David Gravel 35-3.789Running140$2,500
68+224Rico Abreu 35-4.381Running138$2,300
74-35Spencer Bayston 35-4.894Running136$2,200
811+318SJason Solwold 35-5.810Running134$2,100
916+715Donny Schatz 35-6.362Running132$2,050
106-49Kasey Kahne 35-6.540Running130$2,000
117-441Carson Macedo 35-7.070Running128$1,600
1214+218Giovanni Scelzi 35-7.728Running126$1,400
1319+61SLogan Schuchart 35-8.206Running124$1,200
1418+42XJustin Sanders 35-8.717Running122$1,100
1512-355Trey Starks 35-9.346Running120$1,050
1615-141SDominic Scelzi 34-1 LapsRunning118$1,000
1721+47SRobbie Price 34-1 LapsRunning116$1,000
1824+695Justin Youngquist 34-1 LapsRunning114$1,000
1917-296Greg Hamilton 34-1 LapsRunning112$1,000
2023+321Cole Macedo 34-1 LapsRunning110$1,000
2120-13ZBrock Zearfoss 25-10 LapsDNF108$1,000
2213-91TTanner Holmes 23-12 LapsDNF106$1,000
232-2117Sheldon Haudenschild 22-13 LapsDNF104$1,000
2422-299Eric Fisher 21-14 LapsDNF102$1,000
KSE Hard Charger: Corey Day
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+17SRobbie Price 120.00012Running0$0
23+199Eric Fisher 12-1.366Running0$0
35+221Cole Macedo 12-3.093Running0$0
41-395Justin Youngquist 12-4.504Running0$0
54-117SCam Smith 12-5.624Running90$300
68+29ALuke Didiuk 12-5.860Running90$250
76-196AUAndy Caruana 12-7.883Running90$225
87-119Colby Thornhill 12-9.806Running90$200
99021SJesse Schlotfeldt 12-10.670Running90$200
101003AUKarl Hoffmans 12-11.420Running90$200
1111014BBailey Jean 12-13.050Running90$200
1212020GNoah Gass 0-12 LapsDNS90$200
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11083James McFadden 60.0006Running0$0
23+117Sheldon Haudenschild 6-1.485Running0$0
35+249Brad Sweet 6-2.320Running0$0
42-25Spencer Bayston 6-3.420Running0$0
54-183JRMichael Kofoid 6-3.753Running0$0
6609Kasey Kahne 6-5.241Running0$0
77041Carson Macedo 6-5.526Running0$0
88024Rico Abreu 6-6.025Running0$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11024Rico Abreu 80.0008Running
2209Kasey Kahne 8-1.891Running
3302David Gravel 8-2.590Running
46+21TTanner Holmes 8-3.636Running
54-196Greg Hamilton 8-5.670Running
67+199Eric Fisher 8-7.385Running
75-295Justin Youngquist 8-9.202Running
88021SJesse Schlotfeldt 8-10.423Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11083James McFadden 80.0008Running
22017Sheldon Haudenschild 8-1.586Running
33014Corey Day 8-2.198Running
45+118Giovanni Scelzi 8-3.633Running
54-12XJustin Sanders 8-5.540Running
6607SRobbie Price 8-6.133Running
77096AUAndy Caruana 8-9.117Running
8803AUKarl Hoffmans 8-10.149Running
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+141Carson Macedo 80.0008Running
21-15Spencer Bayston 8-1.974Running
33018SJason Solwold 8-2.438Running
44041SDominic Scelzi 8-3.157Running
5501SLogan Schuchart 8-4.223Running
66017SCam Smith 8-5.998Running
77019Colby Thornhill 8-7.869Running
88014BBailey Jean 8-9.599Running
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11083JRMichael Kofoid 80.0008Running
22049Brad Sweet 8-0.980Running
34+155Trey Starks 8-3.392Running
45+115Donny Schatz 8-4.923Running
53-23ZBrock Zearfoss 8-5.495Running
66021Cole Macedo 8-7.066Running
7709ALuke Didiuk 8-7.760Running
88020GNoah Gass 0-8 LapsDNS
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1824Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA11.5900.000
21283James McFadden Alice Springs, NT11.630-0.040
375Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN11.662-0.072
4983JRMichael Kofoid Penngrove, CA11.702-0.112
529Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA11.719-0.129
62017Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH11.721-0.131
7441Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA11.743-0.153
81849Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA11.755-0.165
9312David Gravel Watertown, CT11.775-0.185
102614Corey Day Clovis, CA11.840-0.250
11118SJason Solwold Burlington, WA11.886-0.296
12173ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA11.906-0.316
13396Greg Hamilton Burlington, WA11.920-0.330
14142XJustin Sanders Aromas, CA11.928-0.338
151141SDominic Scelzi Fresno, CA11.964-0.374
162955Trey Starks Puyallup, WA11.971-0.381
172495Justin Youngquist Burlington, WA11.994-0.404
182818Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA11.998-0.408
19221SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA12.002-0.412
202515Donny Schatz Fargo, ND12.016-0.426
21211TTanner Holmes Jacksonville, OR12.017-0.427
22237SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC12.034-0.444
231917SCam Smith Mill Creek, WA12.077-0.487
243021Cole Macedo Lemoore, CA12.086-0.496
25599Eric Fisher Mount Vernon, WA12.089-0.499
261096AUAndy Caruana Melbourne, VIC12.118-0.528
271519Colby Thornhill Enumclaw, WA12.122-0.532
28169ALuke Didiuk Vancouver, BC12.237-0.647
292721SJesse Schlotfeldt Arlington, WA12.308-0.718
30133AUKarl Hoffmans Bundauba, QLD12.339-0.749
31614BBailey Jean Granite Falls, WA12.517-0.927
323220GNoah Gass Mounds, OK12.517-0.927
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
11283James McFadden Alice Springs, NT11.8300.000
22017Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH11.966-0.136
32818Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA11.971-0.141
4312David Gravel Watertown, CT12.010-0.180
51849Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA12.052-0.222
62614Corey Day Clovis, CA12.080-0.250
72515Donny Schatz Fargo, ND12.113-0.283
8983JRMichael Kofoid Penngrove, CA12.127-0.297
92955Trey Starks Puyallup, WA12.171-0.341
101917SCam Smith Mill Creek, WA12.210-0.380
1129Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA12.212-0.382
12118SJason Solwold Burlington, WA12.230-0.400
13221SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA12.260-0.430
14142XJustin Sanders Aromas, CA12.278-0.448
152495Justin Youngquist Burlington, WA12.287-0.457
16173ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA12.300-0.470
17211TTanner Holmes Jacksonville, OR12.337-0.507
18237SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC12.369-0.539
191141SDominic Scelzi Fresno, CA12.392-0.562
20441Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA12.443-0.613
213021Cole Macedo Lemoore, CA12.462-0.632
2275Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN12.493-0.663
231096AUAndy Caruana Melbourne, VIC12.495-0.665
24824Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA12.515-0.685
251519Colby Thornhill Enumclaw, WA12.578-0.748
26169ALuke Didiuk Vancouver, BC12.600-0.770
272721SJesse Schlotfeldt Arlington, WA12.631-0.801
28599Eric Fisher Mount Vernon, WA12.713-0.883
29396Greg Hamilton Burlington, WA12.780-0.950
303220GNoah Gass Mounds, OK12.806-0.976
31614BBailey Jean Granite Falls, WA12.966-1.136
32133AUKarl Hoffmans Bundauba, QLD13.117-1.287
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals
Saturday, September 02, 2023
Skagit Speedway
4796 Old Hwy 99 N
Burlington, Washington 98233 

Event Description
The World of Outlaws return to Washington for a scenic swing that starts with the annual Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals for three nights on a tight track.

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

Event Schedule
1PM Pit Gates open
5PM Grandstand Gates open
6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
7:30PM Opening Ceremonies
*All times Pacific

Event Hashtag
#SkagitNats

Ticket Options  
Options And Prices
Three Day Pass:
Adult (18-61): $130
Junior (7-17) / Senior (62+) / Military: $110
Child (3-6): $30

Thursday: Adult $40, Jr/Sr/ Military $35, Child $10
Friday: Adult $40, Jr/Sr/ Military $35, Child $10
Saturday: Adult $50, Jr/Sr/ Military $40, Child $10

Two and under: FREE

PIT PASS PRICE - THURS - FRI - SAT:
$50 / $50 / $60

Discounts
Military, Senior, Student

Grandstand Type
bleacher

Reserved Seating
all seating is reserved

Family Section Location
SECTIONS: A - B - H - J, non-smoking, non-alcohol.

Handicapped Seating Location
SECTIONS: H & M

Pit Age Requirement
NO AGE REQUIREMENT - MUST HAVE MINOR RELEASE

Parking Cost
$0.00

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
$50 PER NIGHT OR $200 FOR THE WEEK (MON-SUN) for Nationals

Frequently Asked Questions  
Reserved Seating
all seating is reserved

Type of Grandstand
bleacher

Stadium Seating
Stadium seats are allowed

Handicapped Seating
SECTIONS: H & M

Pit Age Limit
NO AGE REQUIREMENT - MUST HAVE MINOR RELEASE

Personal Coolers
No coolers allowed

ATMs
1

Credit Card Use
Concessions, Pit Gate, Ticket Window

Alcohol Sales
Alcohol is permitted in beer gardens sections F & G.

Smoking Policy
smoking are permitted in beer gardens sections F & G.

Family Section
SECTIONS: A - B - H - J, non-smoking, non-alcohol.

Parking Cost
$0.00

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
$50 PER NIGHT OR $200 FOR THE WEEK (MON-SUN) for Nationals

Track Info  

Skagit Speedway
4796 Old Hwy 99 N
Burlington, Washington 98233 

Track Phone
(360) 724-3567

Track Type
0.300; High-banked

Sprint Car Track Record
10.578 seconds by David Gravel

Closest Airport
Bellingham, WA (BLI / KBLI) Bellingham International Airport

Track Map
Competitor Info  

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