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World of Outlaws Wichita Sprint Car Showdown
81 Speedway | Wichita, Kansas
Saturday, March 30, 2024
Race Recap  

WICHITA WARRIOR: Rico Abreu Rolls to Second Consecutive 81 Speedway Victory

Rico Abreu didn’t grow up racing at 81 Speedway. He doesn’t have many laps at the Kansas racetrack. But he continues to feel right at home at the 3/8-mile.

Two times Abreu has joined the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars for a night of racing at 81 Speedway. And two times he’s ended the night parked in Victory Lane. A year ago, the St. Helena, CA native debuted at the facility and led all 30 laps of the Feature on his path to victory. Nearly a year later to the date, Abreu again led The Greatest Show on Dirt for all 30 circuits to claim an 81 triumph in front of the largest crowd in track history.

This year’s win created a historic occasion. Abreu became the ninth different winner in the first nine races of the 2024 World of Outlaws season. The record heading into this year was eight different in 2015. The nation’s top Sprint Car Series has seen unprecedented parity in 2024 courtesy of Abreu’s victory. Oddly enough, Abreu was the eighth different winner in 2015 from the previous high mark.

“These are just very memorable wins,” Abreu said. “Back-to-back years. Nine winners in nine races. I think I was the eighth winner in the eighth race back in 2015 when that was going on. It just shows how hard we work at this stuff. We put in a lot of effort to this team on both the performance side and the marketing side. We just want to really elevate everything. It’s really good for the sport. It’s amazing to see this World of Outlaws race tonight sold out.”

Abreu is now up to 16 career World of Outlaws checkered flags. He joined Sammy Swindell (six wins) and Donny Schatz (two wins) as the only multi-time Series winners at 81 Speedway through 15 visits. The track also became the fifth in which Abreu owns multiple victories at joining Eldora Speedway, Thunderbowl Raceway, Silver Dollar Speedway, and Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.

The race began with Abreu leading the field to green courtesy of topping the Toyota Racing Dash. Abreu faced an early challenge in the form of Michael “Buddy” Kofoid who started the main event in second. Abreu opted for the low line in the opening laps as Kofoid built momentum up top. Right when it looked like Kofoid might drive by Abreu he shifted his line to the cushion. The two nearly made contact but avoided trouble as Abreu maintained the top spot.

An early restart allowed Abreu the opportunity to give himself a bit of breathing room as a battle for second broke out. David Gravel began to challenge Kofoid and managed to slide him for the spot before Kofoid countered with a crossover. Another early caution interrupted their battle.

On the ensuing restart Logan Schuchart emerged as a contender as he ripped by Gravel for third and quickly started to catch Kofoid. On Lap 8 Schuchart threw a successful slider on Kofoid to grab second.

A restart with 19 laps remaining brought a scary moment as Giovanni Scelzi and Carson Macedo clipped wheels sending Scelzi on a wild tumble down the front straightaway. Scelzi hopped out of the car unharmed, but the moment caused a major shift in points as he went into the night tied for the lead and left third in the standings and 38 markers out of first.

Macedo managed to make it back out for the next restart after repairs were made to the rear end of the Jason Johnson Racing #41. Abreu continued to excel on restarts by pulling ahead yet again following the red flag. Gravel slid Kofoid for third, but Kofoid managed to cross him over before another yellow flag again put a stop to the battles.

Buddy Kofoid races side by side with Rico Abreu
Rico Abreu held off a handful of challengers for the win on Friday including Buddy Kofoid (Trent Gower pHoto)

The slider fest continued on the following restart when Gravel slid Schuchart to take the runner-up spot. Shortly after, Schuchart climbed the fence in Turns 1 and 2 but miraculously saved it before his car slowed to a stop and the yellow flew again.

The many cautions seemed to come at the perfect time for Abreu who would continue to be the beneficiary of clean air anytime the yellow flag necessitated a restart. Ultimately, Abreu went on to win by an advantage of nearly two seconds.

“The cautions kind of all fell in place every time we caught traffic, but that’s how some of these races go,” Abreu said. “You can’t give these guys behind you another opportunity to do something better and make a move. I was trying to change my restarts up. On the bottom, the closer I got to the tire, I could get squirt down the front stretch. Ricky (Warner), Zack (Middlebrooks), and Brady (Forbrook), they all just kind of work together on making this car better.”

David Gravel used a last lap pass on Donny Schatz to take the runner-up spot. The result marked back-to-back second place finishes for he and the Big Game Motorsports team. The Watertown, CT native came away happy with the result as he regained sole possession of the points lead.

“I thought he was going to go low or middle there on the last lap,” Gravel said of his late race battle with Schatz. “He went to the top, so I just kind of filled the gap there. I almost tried too hard there a couple restarts, jamming the cushion and getting the car out of shape. If I just followed Rico on the last restart on the top, I think I would’ve been better off.”

Rounding out the top three was Donny Schatz aboard the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15. He brought home his third podium in the last five World of Outlaws races as his strong start to the season continues. He’s now the only driver with a top 10 in every race to this point. But even though the consistency is nice, Schatz wants to win.

“When you’re trying to win, you’re not really thinking about second or third.” Schatz said. “It’s all the same. All in all, a good night. We salvaged not getting Hot Laps. We ended up Qualiying well and just kind of battled a few gremlins all night long. My guys got a new race car built, so you’re going to have that. But past that, they did a great job.”

Sheldon Haudenschild and Buddy Kofoid completed the top five.

A 22nd to eighth driver gave Brock Zearfoss the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson Macedo toppled 81 Speedway’s 20-year-old track record in Sea Foam Qualifying to take Simpson Quick Time for the second race in a row.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three, and Four went to Buddy Kofoid (18th Heat Race win of career), Giovanni Scelzi (41st of career), and Landon Crawley (first of career). Milton Hershey Heat Two belonged to David Gravel (244th of career).

Jace Park won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Missouri for the first time in 2024 where Osborn’s US 36 Raceway will host the Series along with the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets on Friday, April 5. The following night takes the tour to Colcord, OK’s Arrowhead Speedway for the $20,000-to-win Jason Johnson Classic. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[4]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz[12]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[13]; 5. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 6. 55-Chris Windom[18]; 7. 23-Garet Williamson[8]; 8. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[22]; 9. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 10. 5T-Ryan Timms[16]; 11. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[23]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 13. 45X-Jace Park[21]; 14. 21-Brian Brown[24]; 15. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[11]; 16. 1-Brenham Crouch[15]; 17. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[17]; 18. 70-Kraig Kinser[19]; 19. 7S-Landon Crawley[6]; 20. 87-Aaron Reutzel[9]; 21. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 22. 18T-Tanner Holmes[14]; 23. 95-Matt Covington[20]; 24. 17B-Bill Balog[10]

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Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11024Rico Abreu 300.00030Running150$12,000
24+22David Gravel 30-1.804Running146$8,000
312+915Donny Schatz 30-2.615Running144$5,000
413+917Sheldon Haudenschild 30-2.765Running142$3,200
52-383Michael Kofoid 30-4.514Running140$2,800
618+1255Chris Windom 30-10.059Running138$2,600
78+123Garet Williamson 30-10.168Running136$2,400
822+143ZBrock Zearfoss 30-12.011Running134$2,300
97-241Carson Macedo 30-12.151Running132$2,200
1016+65TRyan Timms 30-13.526Running130$2,000
1123+1241SDominic Scelzi 30-13.886Running128$1,800
123-91SLogan Schuchart 30-14.166Running126$1,600
1321+845XJace Park 30-14.843Running124$1,400
1424+1021Brian Brown 30-15.575Running122$1,200
1511-415HSam Hafertepe Jr29-1 LapsRunning120$1,200
1615-11Brenham Crouch 29-1 LapsRunning118$1,200
171703Ayrton Gennetten 29-1 LapsRunning116$1,200
1819+170Kraig Kinser 29-1 LapsRunning114$1,200
196-137SLandon Crawley 29-1 LapsRunning112$1,200
209-1187Aaron Reutzel 15-15 LapsDNF110$1,200
215-1618Giovanni Scelzi 11-19 LapsDNF108$1,200
2214-818TTanner Holmes 6-24 LapsDNF106$1,200
2320-395Matt Covington 3-27 LapsDNF104$1,200
2410-1417BBill Balog 0-30 LapsDNS102$1,200
KSE Hard Charger: Brock Zearfoss
Last Chance Showdown 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11045XJace Park 130.00013Running0$0
24+23ZBrock Zearfoss 13-0.692Running0$0
38+541SDominic Scelzi 13-1.109Running0$0
42-221Brian Brown 13-1.713Running0$0
510+51AJacob Allen 13-2.223Running90$500
612+636Jason Martin 13-3.200Running90$400
713+62CWayne Johnson 13-4.346Running90$350
89+173Scotty Thiel 13-4.502Running90$300
911+2G5Gage Pulkrabek 13-4.784Running90$300
106-488Austin McCarl 13-5.428Running90$300
117-416GAustyn Gossel 13-5.440Running90$200
123-952Blake Hahn 10-3 LapsDNF90$200
135-812XCarson McCarl 7-6 LapsDNF90$200
14140J2John Carney II3-10 LapsDNF90$200
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11024Rico Abreu 60.0006Running0$0
23+183Michael Kofoid 6-2.492Running0$0
32-11SLogan Schuchart 6-2.870Running0$0
4402David Gravel 6-3.236Running0$0
55018Giovanni Scelzi 6-3.689Running0$0
67+17SLandon Crawley 6-5.682Running0$0
78+141Carson Macedo 6-6.673Running0$0
86-223Garet Williamson 6-7.709Running0$0
C Main Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
1102CWayne Johnson 80.0008Running0$0
25+3J2John Carney II8-1.195Running0$0
32-12BBrett Becker 8-2.028Running90$150
46+26Bill Rose 8-3.041Running90$150
54-129Emilio Hoover 8-5.286Running90$150
68+26GBryan Gossel 8-5.737Running90$125
77088RRyder Laplante 3-5 LapsDNF90$125
83-517HWout Hoffmans 2-6 LapsDNF90$125
9903BBaron Silva 0-8 LapsDNF90$125
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+183Michael Kofoid 80.0007Running
21-141Carson Macedo 8-1.4161Running
33087Aaron Reutzel 8-3.103Running
45+117Sheldon Haudenschild 8-3.796Running
54-13Ayrton Gennetten 8-6.193Running
66045XJace Park 8-8.202Running
77012XCarson McCarl 8-9.691Running
810+273Scotty Thiel 8-10.655Running
9902CWayne Johnson 8-11.352Running
108-2J2John Carney II8-12.367Running
111103BBaron Silva 0-8 LapsDNF
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1102David Gravel 80.0008Running
22024Rico Abreu 8-2.051Running
33015HSam Hafertepe Jr8-3.137Running
4401Brenham Crouch 8-4.568Running
55070Kraig Kinser 8-5.769Running
67+152Blake Hahn 8-6.483Running
78+116GAustyn Gossel 8-7.471Running
86-2G5Gage Pulkrabek 8-7.930Running
910+117HWout Hoffmans 6-2 LapsDNF
109-188RRyder Laplante 2-6 LapsDNF
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11018Giovanni Scelzi 80.0008Running
22023Garet Williamson 8-2.934Running
34+117BBill Balog 8-4.848Running
43-118TTanner Holmes 8-5.252Running
57+255Chris Windom 8-7.503Running
6603ZBrock Zearfoss 8-8.285Running
75-221Brian Brown 8-8.332Running
8801AJacob Allen 8-9.646Running
9902BBrett Becker 8-11.469Running
101006Bill Rose 8-13.153Running
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1107SLandon Crawley 80.0008Running
23+11SLogan Schuchart 8-2.098Running
32-115Donny Schatz 8-2.722Running
4405TRyan Timms 8-3.192Running
55095Matt Covington 8-4.651Running
66088Austin McCarl 8-4.813Running
77041SDominic Scelzi 8-5.711Running
88036Jason Martin 8-6.781Running
910+129Emilio Hoover 3-5 LapsDNF
109-16GBryan Gossel 2-6 LapsDNF
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
11641Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.0230.000
2122David Gravel Watertown, CT13.138-0.115
31783Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA13.147-0.124
42024Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA13.182-0.159
5587Aaron Reutzel Clute, TX13.218-0.195
61115HSam Hafertepe JrSunnyvale, TX13.263-0.240
7153Ayrton Gennetten Versailles, MO13.288-0.265
891Brenham Crouch Lubbock, TX13.308-0.285
9817Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.319-0.296
10270Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN13.363-0.340
111345XJace Park Overland Park, KS13.387-0.364
123G5Gage Pulkrabek East Grand Forks, MN13.402-0.379
131412XCarson McCarl Altoona, IA13.490-0.467
142152Blake Hahn Sapulpa, OK13.556-0.533
154J2John Carney IIEl Paso, TX13.610-0.587
16716GAustyn Gossel Windsor, CO13.709-0.686
17192CWayne Johnson Oklahoma City, OK13.719-0.696
18188RRyder Laplante Calera, OK13.723-0.700
191873Scotty Thiel Sheboygan, WI14.056-1.033
201017HWout Hoffmans boxmeer, NB14.131-1.108
2163BBaron Silva Bartlesville, OK15.469-2.446
Qualifying Flight 2 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
11218Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.1670.000
277SLandon Crawley Benton, AR13.236-0.069
32023Garet Williamson Columbia, MO13.314-0.147
4415Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.337-0.170
5318TTanner Holmes Jacksonville, OR13.373-0.206
651SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.400-0.233
71417BBill Balog North Pole, AK13.411-0.244
825TRyan Timms Oklahoma City, OK13.424-0.257
91021Brian Brown Higginsville, MO13.444-0.277
101395Matt Covington Glenpool, OK13.470-0.303
1113ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.511-0.344
121988Austin McCarl Altoona, IA13.543-0.376
131555Chris Windom Canton, IL13.546-0.379
14841SDominic Scelzi Fresno, CA13.564-0.397
15111AJacob Allen Hanover, PA13.585-0.418
161836Jason Martin Lincoln, NE13.881-0.714
1762BBrett Becker Odessa, TX13.946-0.779
18166GBryan Gossel Windsor, CO14.134-0.967
1996Bill Rose Plainfield, IN14.190-1.023
201729Emilio Hoover Broken Arrow, OK14.384-1.217
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
13318Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.4450.000
2287SLandon Crawley Benton, AR13.451-0.006
33517BBill Balog North Pole, AK13.525-0.080
42418TTanner Holmes Jacksonville, OR13.559-0.114
53655Chris Windom Canton, IL13.573-0.128
6235TRyan Timms Oklahoma City, OK13.580-0.135
72024Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA13.591-0.146
8261SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.606-0.161
93121Brian Brown Higginsville, MO13.613-0.168
104088Austin McCarl Altoona, IA13.651-0.206
114123Garet Williamson Columbia, MO13.661-0.216
12122David Gravel Watertown, CT13.671-0.226
133495Matt Covington Glenpool, OK13.693-0.248
14223ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.776-0.331
152941SDominic Scelzi Fresno, CA13.794-0.349
161345XJace Park Overland Park, KS13.808-0.363
17192CWayne Johnson Oklahoma City, OK13.823-0.378
183936Jason Martin Lincoln, NE13.851-0.406
191783Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA13.867-0.422
201641Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.869-0.424
21153Ayrton Gennetten Versailles, MO13.882-0.437
22817Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.953-0.508
232152Blake Hahn Sapulpa, OK13.972-0.527
241115HSam Hafertepe JrSunnyvale, TX13.985-0.540
2591Brenham Crouch Lubbock, TX14.037-0.592
26321AJacob Allen Hanover, PA14.042-0.597
27587Aaron Reutzel Clute, TX14.066-0.621
281873Scotty Thiel Sheboygan, WI14.090-0.645
29376GBryan Gossel Windsor, CO14.110-0.665
30306Bill Rose Plainfield, IN14.121-0.676
311412XCarson McCarl Altoona, IA14.141-0.696
32270Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN14.158-0.713
331017HWout Hoffmans boxmeer, NB14.230-0.785
344J2John Carney IIEl Paso, TX14.279-0.834
35716GAustyn Gossel Windsor, CO14.340-0.895
36188RRyder Laplante Calera, OK14.341-0.896
37272BBrett Becker Odessa, TX14.344-0.899
3863BBaron Silva Bartlesville, OK14.499-1.054
393G5Gage Pulkrabek East Grand Forks, MN14.577-1.132
403829Emilio Hoover Broken Arrow, OK14.770-1.325
412515Donny Schatz Fargo, ND0.00013.445
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

World of Outlaws Wichita Sprint Car Showdown
Saturday, March 30, 2024
81 Speedway
7700 N Broadway St
Wichita, Kansas 67219 

Event Description
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars return to the 3/8-mile Park City, KS Speedway.

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

To Win Amount
$12,000.00

Event Schedule
2PM Gates Open
5PM Grandstand Gates Open
6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
Opening Ceremonies
and Racing to follow
*All times Central

Ticket Options  
Options And Prices
Reserved: $40 Advanced / $45 Day of
Adult GA: $35 Advanced / $40 Day of
Child GA: $10


Trackside Parking: $50
Vehicle Pass for Pits: $20

Reserved Seating
Top 10 Rows

Pit Pass Price
Pits: $45

Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$12,000.00

Reserved Seating
Top 10 Rows

Track Info  

81 Speedway
7700 N Broadway St
Wichita, Kansas 67219 

Track Phone
(316) 755-1781

Track Size
0.375

Track Map
Competitor Info  

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