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A Night Unlike Any Other in World of Outlaws History

050820_WoO_4Wide_ByTrentGower

KNOXVILLE, IA — Much of the world has been shut down for more than two months as it deals with a pandemic most have never seen. Racetracks have for the most part sat idle. But on Friday night, at Knoxville Raceway, one of the most historic venues in dirt track racing, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car engines roared, and an industry awoke.

The sport, and life in general, is a long way from returning to normal. The massive grandstands remained empty. Once the participants were safely inside, gates were secured. Only 48 teams were allowed to compete, and those teams were limited to five people each. And adding to the intense scrutiny of the night were the returns of high-profile racers Kasey Kahne and Kyle Larson.

World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet is the first driver to sign in on Friday, May 8, at Knoxville Raceway. Under CDC guidelines, all participants had their temperatures taken and followed strict social distancing guidelines in the World of Outlaws Return to Racing. (Jeff Hachmann photo)

The World of Outlaws, which always encourages fan interaction, hung signs warning the uninvited to steer clear of the Marion County Fairgrounds. Upon signing in, participants had their temperature taken, had to answer questions about health conditions and were handed masks and bottles of hand sanitizer. VP Racing even handed out additional bottles of hand sanitizer as participants were instructed to wash their hands every 20 minutes.

 

The World of Outlaws made sure everybody in the pits, like Rico Abreu, had hand sanitizer courtesy of VP Racing. (Jeff Hachmann photo)

In a sport where wheel-to-wheel racing is the norm, social distancing was on full display. Even the team haulers were spaced apart 12 feet.

Even Kasey Kahne Racing teammates were spaced 12 feet apart following guidelines set forth for this event. (Jeff Hachmann photo)

After a COVID-19 Resource Center was built and binders of documents were delivered to Iowa officials all the way up to the governor’s office in the weeks leading up to this #RETURNtoRACING, “Clean-Cover-Confine” was the goal as all observed CDC guidelines. It was never about being the first back to racing, but the World of Outlaws were determined to be the best.

It was vitally important to follow every specific rule, because the whole event was broadcast for the world to see on DIRTVision presented by Drydene. And fans tuned in from around the world to watch. Then something happened that was unprecedented. People were so moved they began reaching out to announcer Johnny Gibson wanting to give to the competitors.

First it was $100, then $200, then $500, then $1,000 … ultimately a contributor added $5,000. By the end of the event, fans and organizations pledged nearly $15,000 to drivers finishing in various positions, drivers from different states, drivers who failed to make the Feature, and so on.

While everybody was required to wear a mask, Logan Schuchart brought his own custom Shark Racing mask. (Trent Gower photo)

Never before has an event with so little noise on site wound up creating such a bang. The racing community needed Friday night, and it was never more evident than as the night wore on. The reactions from drivers spaced out on the Knoxville stage, the reactions of fans watching on their screens, the reaction of winner David Gravel momentarily forgetting there were no people in the stands when he climbed up on the wing of his #41 Jason Johnson Racing machine to celebrate, only to quickly realize it was better to look at the camera.

Friday night is a beginning. While the World of Outlaws started the season in Florida, this felt like the start of a whole new season. Next weekend will be similar when the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models return to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, MO, only this time with a limited number of fans in the stands.

Racers aren’t used to moving slow, but in these times, steady, slow and safe will hopefully lead to victory.

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