The Rookie of the Year leader bests Kofoid, Gravel, and Macedo to add his name to the history books
Emerson Axsom fought back tears on Sunday night at Huset’s Speedway.
The 21-year-old is one of the sport’s top rising stars, but nothing is guaranteed with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. Axsom hit the road full-time with The Greatest Show on Dirt for the first time in 2026 with his father, Joe, as the crew chief on the Klaasmeyer/Petry Motorsports No. 27.
It had been a year of highs and lows for Axsom and the team as they entered Sunday’s L.G. Everist Huset’s Shootout presented by Myrl & Roy’s Paving finale. One thing that had eluded them was Axsom’s first World of Outlaws win.
Not anymore.
Axsom put together 40 laps at the Brandon, SD track and flat out earned it. He survived an intense mid-race battle with Carson Macedo after the two traded the lead multiple times. Then he held on through several late restarts with David Gravel and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid breathing down his neck. The best in the business right behind him, and Axsom stayed composed on his way to a special victory and $25,000 payday.
“Man, I’m about to tear up,” Axsom said. “This has been an awesome but trying year. I’m just so proud of my dad and I. It’s just my dad and myself and one other guy out here. We try so hard every week. I’m just so glad to see it happen. There’s been so many guys that’ve helped us. I’m so happy for Dale Klaasmeyer and Scott Petry. They’ve believed in me since day one and gave me an opportunity in my Winged Sprint Car career.
“This is my dream. This is the toughest Series in the world. It’s the hardest I’ve ever had to try to win races, and it’s week in and week out. It feels like there’s eight to 10 guys that can win every night. I mean, we’re 12th in points, and we just won an Outlaw race. I feel like it shows how deep this field is. I feel like racing these guys has made me such a better driver. It’s a dream come true, and I hope to be here a long time.”
Axsom is the 160th different winner in World of Outlaws history and is the fifth new face to visit Victory Lane this year, joining Kasey Kahne. Bryce Lucius, Chris Windom, and Garet Williamson. He’s the 21st different driver to top a race with The Greatest Show on Dirt in 2026, bringing this season within four of equaling the record for the most (25) set in 2004. The Franklin, IN native is the 13th “Hoosier” to beat the World of Outlaws as he’s now alongside Steve Kinser (Bloomington, IN), Mark Kinser (Oolitic, IN), Joey Saldana (Brownsburg, IN), Kraig Kinser (Bloomington, IN), Joe Gaerte (Rochester, IN), Spencer Bayston (Lebanon, IN), Tyler Courtney (Indianapolis, IN), Tony Stewart (Columbus, IN), Parker Price-Miller (Kokomo, IN), Larry Gates (St. Joseph, IN), Kelly Kinser (Bloomington, IN), and Zeb Wise (Angola, IN).
Buddy Kofoid slid by David Gravel late to secure the runner-up spot in the Roth Motorsports No. 83.
David Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 crew rounded out the podium.
Carson Macedo and Spencer Bayston completed the top five.
NIGHTLY NOTES
David Gravel laid down the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.
Heat Races belonged to Christopher Thram (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Chris Windom (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), Emerson Axsom (WIX Filters Heat Three), and (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).
The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Carson Macedo.
Macedo also topped the Toyota Dash.
Sam Henderson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.
Ashton Torgerson wheeled from 17th to 10th to pick up the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.
Emerson Axsom’s win made him the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.
Axsom also clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.
The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Sheldon Haudenschild.
UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Kansas’ Dodge City Raceway Park for the first time since 2020 on Saturday, Sept. 12 before returning to Colorado after a decade away at Calhan, CO’s El Paso County Raceway on Monday, Sept. 14. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
Where can you watch every World of Outlaws race? Live on DIRTVision.
Where can you see the World of Outlaws in 2026? Click to see the full schedule.
FEATURE RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps): 1. 27-Emerson Axsom[2]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[7]; 3. 2-David Gravel[3]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 5. 17-Spencer Bayston[11]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson[5]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[8]; 8. 51-Steven Snyder Jr[10]; 9. 7S-Chris Windom[13]; 10. 45X-Ashton Torgerson[17]; 11. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 12. 2C-Cole Macedo[15]; 13. 16C-Skylar Gee[18]; 14. 3-Kelby Watt[16]; 15. 24T-Christopher Thram[12]; 16. 15-Donny Schatz[19]; 17. 8-Jacob Hughes[20]; 18. (DNF) 17B-Bill Balog[9]; 19. (DNF) 10-Ryan Timms[4]; 20. (DNF) 11M-Brendan Mullen[23]; 21. (DNF) 83JR-Sam Henderson[21]; 22. (DNF) 19-Kaleb Johnson[14]; 23. (DNF) 16-Riley Goodno[24]; 24. (DNF) 13-Mark Dobmeier[22]
For complete results, CLICK HERE.