After two years of going from one team to another with frustrating results, Shane Stewart was ready to quit Sprint Car racing. This year, he’s having fun again; even with an uncertain future.
The Bixby, OK driver currently sits fifth in the championship points after the first eight World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series races with three top-five finishes and five top-10s. He’s done so with two teams, as well.
He lost his ride with CJB Motorsports at the end of 2019 but was able to get in a second Sides Motorsports entry for the three season opening races at Volusia Speedway Park. Plans to run a Roth Motorsports car during the spring California swing were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, when racing resumed, Stewart found another new home back in Bernie Stuebgen’s Indy Race Parts #71 – which he’ll drive during the World of Outlaws’ return to Beaver Dam Raceway June 5-6.
(RELATED: World of Outlaws Open Racing in Wisconsin with Beaver Dam Bash)
“I drove the 71 several years back and had a little bit of success with Bernie and Betsy (Stuebgen),” said Stewart, who finished second at Lawrenceburg Speedway in the #71 in 2013. “I’ve seen the guys drive it after I did, and they’ve all been really fast in this car. So, when the opportunity came my way to jump in it and run a few races I was pretty excited to do that.”
Stewart finished 16th at Knoxville Raceway in his first race with the team this year. While it wasn’t the result they hoped for, Stewart said they learned what changes needed to be made. Since then, he’s finished fourth, sixth, fourth and fourth.
“I think our car has been pretty quick the last few races, but I also feel like I’ve qualified in the right spot, too,” Stewart said. “That’s been important lately. I still feel like our car has been competitive during Feature times, as well. We’re having fun. This is a small race team. Not a lot of money behind it. But what [Stuebgen] does have is competitive stuff. His motors run good with Charlie Garrett. Bernie has a pretty good inside on how to make these Maxim cars work. Having a good time.”
Aside from picking up the win at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, 2019 didn’t go as planned for Stewart. After an up and down season, he found out in September he wouldn’t be returning to CJB in 2020. Not long after he had to take on crew chief duties when crew chief Barry Jackson moved over to working with Kerry Madsen. This year has been a welcomed reset for him.
His “off season” of racing, and winning, in Australia helped put him on a path to regaining confidence and enjoying racing again.
“Anytime you can win, it always builds your confidence,” Stewart said. “The group of guys I was racing with in Australia, they’re not Outlaw caliber teams or drivers. But it was still a win, which helps.
“I knew that I hadn’t forgot how to drive. You just have to get yourself in a situation where the people around you believe in you.”
He believes he has that with Stuebgen and his team, he added. Their performance is proof.
That support provides an extra boost of confidence going into each race, especially when Stewart has been successful there before; like at Beaver Dam Raceway. He won at the 1/3-mile track in 2017 and finished fourth there last year. The previous two tracks on the schedule were also 1/3-mile tracks, further giving Stewart confidence in what the #71 car could do at Beaver Dam.
While he’d like to run the full season with the World of Outlaws, it’s unclear if he’ll be able to in the #71. Stuebgen still has his business to take care of and when he’s not there, it’s not making money, Stewart said. For now, their plan is to run the doubleheader weekend at Beaver Dam Raceway and the Brownells Big Guns Bash doubleheader at Knoxville Raceway June 12-13. Then, they’ll evaluate the situation from there and see where the Series schedule goes.
“Obviously, Bernie has to pay attention to the schedule and not miss too many days of work,” Stewart said. “We’d love to continue to race with you guys and that’s our plan.”
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6 at Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, WI, on DIRTVision. Hot Laps at 6 p.m. (CT)/7 p.m. (ET) and racing at 7:30 p.m. (CT)/8:30 p.m. (ET).
ABOUT THE TRACK
Beaver Dam Raceway is a semi-banked 1/3-mile track.
Track Record – 11.275 sec. set by Daryn Pittman on July 10, 2001
Online – WisMotorsports.net
1/3-MILE WINNERS IN 2020
There have been four races on a 1/3-mile track this year.
Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55: Brad Sweet won on May 22 and Kyle Larson won on May 23
Lake Ozark Speedway: Logan Schuchart won on May 29 and Donny Schatz won on May 30
BEAVER DAM RACEWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2019 – Brad Sweet on June 22
2018 – Daryn Pittman on June 23
2017 – Shane Stewart on June 24
2016 – Bill Balog on June 25
2015 – Donny Schatz on June 27
2014 – Brad Sweet on June 28
2013 – Craig Dollansky on June 29
2012 – Kraig Kinser on July 7
2011 – Joey Saldana on July 9
2010 – Joey Saldana on July 10
2009 – Danny Lasoski on July 11
2008 – Steve Kinser on Aug. 2
2007 – Jason Solwold on Aug. 3, Daryn Pittman on Sept. 16
2006 – Jac Haudenschild on June 14
2005 – Craig Dollansky on July 6, Daryn Pittman on Sept. 24
2004 – Tim Shaffer on Sept. 25, Steve Kinser on June 12
2003 – Joey Saldana on April 22, Daryn Pittman on Aug. 3
2002 – Donny Schatz on July 10
1998 – Jac Haudenschild on June 17
1997 – Mark Kinser on May 4, Dave Blaney on June 18
1996 – Dave Blaney on May 5
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws – @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint – @woosprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision – @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision
DRIVER INFO
Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:
Bill Rose – @BillRose6_Rose
Brad Sweet – @BradSweet49
Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo
Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman
David Gravel – @DavidGravel
Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz
Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A
Jason Sides – @SidesMotorsport
Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k
Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s
Mason Daniel – @MasonDRacing
Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17
Wayne Johnson – @wjr77x
AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13, will return to Knoxville Raceway for the Brownells Big Guns Bash, broadcasted live on DIRTVision.
2020 STATS
There have been eight World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.
FEATURE WINNERS (5 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 2
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 2
2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (19 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 4
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 4
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 3
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 3
3 – Cory Eliason, Visalia, Calif. – 2
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
4 – Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1
– James McFadden, Warrnambool, VIC, Australia – 1
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Brian Brown, Grain Valley, Mo. – 1
– Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– Tyler Courtney, Indianapolis, Ind. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Sunnyvale Texas – 1
DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (6 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 2
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 2
2 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (7 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 2
2 – Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg, Pa. – 1
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– Paul McMahan, Nashville, Tenn. – 1
– Brian Bell, Arlington Tenn. – 1
– Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. – 1
C-MAIN WINNERS (3 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Trey Starks, Puyallup, Wash. – 1
– Cale Thomas, Fairland, Ind. – 1
– Anthony Macri, Dillsburg, Pa. – 1
D-MAIN WINNERS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Kyle Moody, Lewisberry, Pa. – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (10 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of podiums
1 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 6
2 – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 5
3 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 3
4 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2
5 – James McFadden, Warrnambool, VIC, Australia – 1
– David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1
– Brent Marks, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
HARD CHARGER AWARD (5 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 3
2 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
3 – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 1
TOTAL LAPS LED (9 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 80
2 – Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 48
3 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 45
4 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 32
5 – Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 21
6 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14
7 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 9
– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 9
8 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 2
QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (6 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 2
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 2
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw Wash. – 1
NEW TRACK RECORDS (1 driver)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – TR
1 – Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. (9.995 sec. at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55)
FASTEST IN PRACTICE (6 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of times fastest
1 – Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 3
2 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
2020 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Donny Schatz (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brad Sweet (1)
3. Sunday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Logan Schuchart (1)
4. Friday, March 13 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / (Postponed)
5. Saturday, March 14 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, TX / (Canceled)
6. Saturday, March 21 / USA Raceway / Tucson, AZ / (Canceled)
7. Sunday, March 22 / Arizona Speedway / San Tan Valley, AZ / (Canceled)
8. Saturday, March 28 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, CA / (Canceled)
9. Sunday, March 29 / Santa Maria Raceway / Nipomo, CA / (Postponed)
10. Friday April 3 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / (Postponed)
11. Saturday, April 4 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / (Postponed)
12. Friday, April 10 / Merced Speedway / Merced, CA / (Canceled)
13. Saturday, April 11 / Ocean Speedway / Watsonville, CA / (Canceled)
14. Friday, April 17 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA / (Canceled)
15. Saturday, April 18 / Stockotn Dirt Track / Stockton, CA / (Canceled)
16. Friday, April 24 / Vado Speedway Park / Vado, NM / (Canceled)
17. Saturday, April 25 / Vado Speedway Park / Vado, NM / (Canceled)
18. Friday, May 1 / Lawton Speedway / Lawton, OK / (Postponed)
19. Saturday, May 2 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / (Postponed)
20. Wednesday, May 6 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / (Postponed)
21. Friday, May 8 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (1)
22. Friday, May 8 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / (Postponed)
23. Saturday, May 9 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / (Postponed)
24. Wednesday, May 13 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / (Postponed)
25. Friday, May 15 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / (Postponed)
26. Saturday, May 16 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / (Postponed)
27. Tuesday, May 19 / Bridgeport Speedway / Swedesboro, NJ / (Postponed)
28. Fri., May 22 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Brad Sweet (2)
29. Sat., May 23 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (1)
30. Saturday, May 23 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC / (Postponed)
31. Monday, May 25 / Lawrenceburg Speedway / Lawrenceburg, IN / (Postponed)
32. Friday, May 29 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, MO / Logan Schuchart (2)
33. Saturday, May 30 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, MO / Donny Schatz (2)
34. Saturday, May 30 / I-70 Speedway / Odessa, MO / (Postponed)
35. Wednesday, June 3 / I-80 Speedway / Greenwood, NE / (Postponed)
