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World of Outlaws Empire State Challenge
Weedsport Speedway | Weedsport, NY
Sunday, July 28, 2024
Race Recap  

WEEDSPORT WONDER: David Gravel, Big Game Motorsports Top Fourth Weedsport Race in Five Tries

Gravel bests Macedo to become the winningest driver in Series history at the New York oval

The pairing of David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports has been perhaps the fastest in Sprint Car Racing in 2024. Take them to one of their best tracks as a pairing, and it’s almost not even fair for the competition.

Such was the case Sunday night when the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars journeyed to New York. Weedsport Speedway awaited to host The Greatest Show on Dirt’s only “Empire State” appearance of 2024. Entering the night Gravel and Tod Quiring’s team had contested four races together at Weedsport. Their results? Three visits to Victory Lane and a runner-up.

Add on to that résumé the fact that Gravel rolled into Weedsport on a streak of six straight top two finishes that included a Kings Royal triumph and the 100th victory of Gravel’s career, and Gravel and the Big Game crew entered the Weedsport pit area as odds on favorites. And they delivered.

Gravel started third in the 30-lap main event, took second early, and stalked Carson Macedo until the right time arose. And when the window opened, Gravel drove right by Macedo, and that was all she wrote. The point leader built up a sizeable lead and took the checkered flag with just under a four-second advantage.

“I know about every time we’ve been here in the 2 car we’ve won,” Gravel said. “Cody (Jacobs), Stephen (Hamm-Reilly), and Zach (Patterson) are continuing to do their jobs and give me great race cars. It’s been a lot of fun to drive. It’s been a dream season. We’ve still got a long ways to go, but, man, this is fun.”

The 13th win of the year for Gravel already makes 2024 the second winningest season in his tenure. His most is 18 in 2017 with CJB Motorsports. A fourth Weedsport victory gives him sole possession of the most at the New York oval, breaking a tie with Steve Kinser and Donny Schatz. One night after securing his 100th World of Outlaws triumph, Gravel pushed the total to 101 and closed within four of Joey Saldana for seventh on the all-time list. It was also Big Game Motorsports’ 107th Series win as a team, positioning Quiring’s crew just one behind Roth Motorsports.

The Empire State Challenge main event was led to green by Carson Macedo with Michael Kofoid alongside. Macedo pulled ahead to lead the first circuit, and Gravel quickly rolled by Kofoid to take over second right before a red flag flew for Davie Franek tumbling in Turn 3.

Macedo managed to maintain the lead on the ensuing restart. The Jason Johnson Racing pilot used the slider line in Turns 1 and 2 and stuck the bottom on the opposite end of the unique oval. Behind him Gravel ran a similar line in the first set of corners but ripped the top in Turns 3 and 4.

David Gravel runs the cushion at Weedsport Speedway
David Gravel has dominated Weedsport with four wins in the last five races at the New York facility (Trent Gower Photo)

A yellow flag with 19 laps remaining set up another restart for Macedo with Gravel alongside him. The Lemoore, CA native again pulled ahead when the green lights brought the action back to life, but Gravel didn’t let him get far.

On the 13th circuit Gravel built a huge run on the cushion in Turns 3 and 4 and down the front straightaway. The momentum allowed him to duck under Macedo and complete the pass in Turns 1 and 2. Macedo had no counter as Gravel drifted in front of him, caught the grip, and pulled ahead.

Gravel drove away in the second half of the race while a battle brewed for the runner-up spot behind him. Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Stewart Friesen all jockeyed for podium positioning.

Up ahead Gravel had the Huset’s Speedway No. 2 on a Sunday drive as he rolled comfortably to victory to make it a baker’s dozen in the win column this year.

“I felt like with him (Macedo) being down in (Turns) 3 and 4 I was getting really good runs down the front stretch,” Gravel said. “This place continues to change, and as the fuel load comes off you really got to get aggressive on your wing. In lapped traffic, I was getting out of the racetrack a little bit, so when we got that clean track there with that caution, I felt like it was my time to pounce and try to get in front of him and control the race after that. It all worked out.”

Haudenschild came out on top of the war for second. The runner-up result aboard the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 17 equaled his best Weedsport finish.

“Just being able to see kind of where he was running,” Haudenschild said of getting by Macedo late. “He was trying different things to catch David obviously. I was probably entering (Turn) 1 higher than anybody and trying to get down the track. The 41 was ripping the top, and the 2 was kind of through the middle, so I think they were all pretty even. It’s just a tricky track. What do you do? These races are hard to win, and the 2 is on it right now. Happy to get out of here with a podium rolling into Pevely and give our guys a little bit of confidence.”

After leading the first 13 laps, Macedo brought the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 home third. He and the JJR crew were stout all night but just needed a little more speed to have a better shot at holding on for the victory.

“It seemed like after the restart there I felt like I was hitting pretty good laps,” Macedo said. “I went back down to the bottom, and I could hear him and see him enter off my right rear on the top. And when I hit the bottom, I felt like it was pretty good, and he still was able to get a run on me and cross me over and beat me down into Turn 1. Then I paced behind him. Then the caution came out and I thought, ‘Okay, I know what he’s going to do.’ And he actually peeled off and went down to the bottom where I was running in (Turns) 3 and 4, and I tried to run the top and he was still faster than me down there. I really don’t know what I could’ve done different, but nevertheless we ended up third.”

Stewart Friesen and Donny Schatz completed the top five.

And 19th to 10th run earned Larry Wight the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Sheldon Haudenschild claimed his fourth Simpson Quick Time of the year and the 33rd of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heats One and Three belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild and David Gravel. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Carson Macedo.

Carson Macedo topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Larry Wight won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Davie Franek.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Pevely, MO’s Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 for the grueling Ironman 55 on August 2-3. The winner of the 55-lap finale takes home the iconic dumbbell trophy and $25,000. 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. 2-David Gravel[3]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[4]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 4. 0-Stewart Friesen[9]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[8]; 6. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 7. 28-Jordan Poirier[10]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[6]; 10. 10B-Larry Wight[19]; 11. 70-Kraig Kinser[15]; 12. 17B-Bill Balog[7]; 13. 79-Jordan Thomas[12]; 14. W20-Greg Wilson[21]; 15. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[11]; 16. 10-Billy VanInwegen Jr[24]; 17. 22P-Jonathan Preston[16]; 18. 7S-Landon Crawley[18]; 19. 7NY-Matt Farnham[13]; 20. 6-Kelby Watt[20]; 21. 41X-Dalton Rombough[14]; 22. 36-Logan Crisafulli[23]; 23. 28F-Davie Franek[17]; 24. O1-Danny Varin[22]

[Read More]
Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
13+22David Gravel 300.00017Running150$12,000
24+217Sheldon Haudenschild 30-3.94513Running146$8,000
31-241Carson Macedo 30-4.951Running144$5,000
49+50Stewart Friesen 30-5.065Running142$3,200
58+315Donny Schatz 30-5.709Running140$2,800
62-483Michael Kofoid 30-7.733Running138$2,600
710+328Jordan Poirier 30-8.486Running136$2,400
85-318Giovanni Scelzi 30-9.768Running134$2,300
96-31SLogan Schuchart 30-12.102Running132$2,200
1019+910BLarry Wight 30-12.120Running130$2,000
1115+470Kraig Kinser 30-12.689Running128$1,800
127-517BBill Balog 30-14.265Running126$1,600
1312-179Jordan Thomas 30-14.668Running124$1,400
1421+7W20Greg Wilson 30-16.218Running122$1,200
1511-43ZBrock Zearfoss 30-16.801Running120$1,200
1624+810Billy Vaninwegen Jr29-1 LapsRunning118$1,200
1716-122PJonathan Preston 29-1 LapsRunning116$1,200
181807SLandon Crawley 29-1 LapsRunning114$1,200
1913-67NYMatt Farnham 29-1 LapsRunning112$1,200
202006Kelby Watt 29-1 LapsRunning110$1,200
2114-741XDalton Rombough 29-1 LapsRunning108$1,200
2223+136Logan Crisafulli 17-13 LapsDNF106$1,200
2317-628FDavie Franek 1-29 LapsDNF104$1,200
2422-2O1Danny Varin 1-29 LapsDNF102$1,200
KSE Hard Charger: Larry Wight
Last Chance Showdown 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
14+310BLarry Wight 120.0002Running0$0
21-16Kelby Watt 12-1.17710Running0$0
330W20Greg Wilson 12-2.536Running0$0
45+1O1Danny Varin 12-3.397Running0$0
57+236Logan Crisafulli 12-5.061Running0$0
68+210Billy Vaninwegen Jr12-8.390Running0$0
76-153Jessie Attard 12-9.822Running90$500
82-63Denny Peebles 12-11.019Running90$400
910+12XDave Axton 12-12.157Running90$350
1011+122Tomy Moreau 12-12.959Running90$300
119-288CChad Miller 12-14.392Running90$300
1212066Jordan Hutton 0-12 LapsDNF90$300
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11041Carson Macedo 60.0006Running0$0
22083Michael Kofoid 6-0.627Running0$0
34+12David Gravel 6-1.202Running0$0
43-117Sheldon Haudenschild 6-3.576Running0$0
56+118Giovanni Scelzi 6-3.861Running0$0
65-11SLogan Schuchart 6-5.439Running0$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11017Sheldon Haudenschild 80.0008Running
22018Giovanni Scelzi 8-2.297Running
33017BBill Balog 8-4.362Running
45+128Jordan Poirier 8-5.494Running
58+37NYMatt Farnham 8-8.406Running
64-222PJonathan Preston 8-8.529Running
79+2W20Greg Wilson 8-9.162Running
86-26Kelby Watt 8-11.069Running
97-23Denny Peebles 8-13.079Running
101002XDave Axton 8-15.305Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11041Carson Macedo 80.0008Running
2201SLogan Schuchart 8-0.577Running
34+115Donny Schatz 8-2.175Running
43-13ZBrock Zearfoss 8-3.097Running
56+141XDalton Rombough 8-5.922Running
65-128FDavie Franek 8-6.759Running
78+110BLarry Wight 8-8.374Running
87-153Jessie Attard 8-9.126Running
99010Billy Vaninwegen Jr8-10.226Running
1010022Tomy Moreau 8-13.413Running
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1102David Gravel 80.0008Running
24+283Michael Kofoid 8-4.659Running
35+20Stewart Friesen 8-5.772Running
43-179Jordan Thomas 8-6.840Running
52-370Kraig Kinser 8-8.616Running
6607SLandon Crawley 8-9.448Running
710+3O1Danny Varin 8-9.741Running
88036Logan Crisafulli 8-9.879Running
97-288CChad Miller 8-12.472Running
109-166Jordan Hutton 8-13.597Running
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
11617Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.5070.000
2641Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.623-0.116
3262David Gravel Watertown, CT13.687-0.180
41218Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.757-0.250
5101SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.832-0.325
6370Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN13.836-0.329
7417BBill Balog North Pole, AK13.882-0.375
8113ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.907-0.400
9879Jordan Thomas Harding, PA13.993-0.486
101422PJonathan Preston Geneva, NY14.068-0.561
111915Donny Schatz Fargo, ND14.083-0.576
122383Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA14.087-0.580
132928Jordan Poirier Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, QC14.209-0.702
14728FDavie Franek Wantage, NJ14.235-0.728
1520Stewart Friesen Sprakers, NY14.256-0.749
16156Kelby Watt Adel, IA14.288-0.781
17941XDalton Rombough Lowville, NY14.444-0.937
18227SLandon Crawley Benton, AR14.505-0.998
19133Denny Peebles Lowman, NY14.548-1.041
202053Jessie Attard Landilo, NSW14.574-1.067
212588CChad Miller Amsterdam, NY14.621-1.114
22187NYMatt Farnham Tonawanda, NY14.648-1.141
23110BLarry Wight Fulton, NY14.707-1.200
242836Logan Crisafulli Oswego, NY14.761-1.254
2530W20Greg Wilson Benton Ridge, OH14.773-1.266
262110Billy Vaninwegen JrPort Jervis, NY14.829-1.322
27566Jordan Hutton Hannibal, NY14.880-1.373
28242XDave Axton Port Byron, NY15.190-1.683
291722Tomy Moreau Sherbrooke, QC15.423-1.916
3027O1Danny Varin Sharon Springs, NY60.000-46.493
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1641Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.0980.000
2417BBill Balog North Pole, AK13.270-0.172
31218Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.434-0.336
4370Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN13.437-0.339
51617Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.503-0.405
6262David Gravel Watertown, CT13.540-0.442
7113ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.643-0.545
8101SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.655-0.557
920Stewart Friesen Sprakers, NY13.743-0.645
10879Jordan Thomas Harding, PA13.752-0.654
11728FDavie Franek Wantage, NJ13.843-0.745
12227SLandon Crawley Benton, AR13.856-0.758
132383Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA13.862-0.764
141915Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.906-0.808
15156Kelby Watt Adel, IA13.946-0.848
16187NYMatt Farnham Tonawanda, NY13.946-0.848
1727O1Danny Varin Sharon Springs, NY13.963-0.865
18110BLarry Wight Fulton, NY13.975-0.877
19941XDalton Rombough Lowville, NY14.013-0.915
202836Logan Crisafulli Oswego, NY14.040-0.942
212928Jordan Poirier Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, QC14.144-1.046
22566Jordan Hutton Hannibal, NY14.254-1.156
231422PJonathan Preston Geneva, NY14.338-1.240
2430W20Greg Wilson Benton Ridge, OH14.346-1.248
252588CChad Miller Amsterdam, NY14.358-1.260
262053Jessie Attard Landilo, NSW14.395-1.297
27133Denny Peebles Lowman, NY14.461-1.363
282110Billy Vaninwegen JrPort Jervis, NY14.490-1.392
291722Tomy Moreau Sherbrooke, QC14.834-1.736
30242XDave Axton Port Byron, NY14.996-1.898
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

World of Outlaws Empire State Challenge

Sunday, July 28, 2024

Weedsport Speedway

1 Speedway Drive

Weedsport, NY, 13166

Event Description
New York's state-of-the-art Weedsport Speedway welcomes the World of Outlaws back to The Empire State.
Series Racing
DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

Event Schedule

3:00PM Pit Gates open
4:00PM Grandstand Gates open
6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying with Opening Ceremonies and Racing to Follow

*All times Eastern

Ticket Options  
Ticket Phone
844-347-8849
Options And Prices
Reserved: $40 / $45 Day of
Adult GA: $35 / $40 Day of
Child GA (6-12): $10
Discounts
None
Grandstand Type
Bleacher
Reserved Seating
Top 5 Rows
Family Section Location
Section 8 – no smoking, no alcohol, no foul language.
Handicapped Seating Location
Row A of most sections
Pit Pass Price

Pit Pass (Non-Member): $45
Pit Pass (Member): $40
Adult Pit Upgrade: $10
Child Pit Upgrade: $35

Pit Age Requirement
None. Parent or Guardian must complete minor waiver form.
Pit Gate Location
Towpath Road Weedsport NY 13166
Parking Cost
Free parking except concerts.
Handicapped Parking Location
Near Grand Entrance
Camping Availability
Electric hookup, non-electric, onsite, sanitary facility, showers, waste services
Camping Cost
Determined by event see website for specific details
Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$12,000.00
Reserved Seating
Top 5 Rows
Type of Grandstand
Bleacher
Stadium Seating
Seat cushions are permitted. Please note, the top five rows of each section have individually numbered, contoured resin seats and can not accommodate portable stadium seats with back support.
Handicapped Seating
Row A of most sections
Handicapped Parking
Near Grand Entrance
Pit Age Limit
None. Parent or Guardian must complete minor waiver form.
Pit Gate Location
Towpath Road Weedsport NY 13166
Personal Coolers
Yes, small 6″ x 6″ x 12″, personal, soft sided cooler that holds no more than 6 cans. No alcohol. No glass. Must be in original sealed containers.
ATMs
1
Alcohol Sales
Beer and Wine can be purchased by spectators over the legal age of 21. No outside alcohol permitted.
Smoking Policy
No smoking in grandstands. Smoking is permitted in designated areas.
Family Section
Section 8 – no smoking, no alcohol, no foul language.
Parking Cost
Free parking except concerts.
Camping Availability
Electric hookup, non-electric, onsite, sanitary facility, showers, waste services
Camping Cost
Determined by event see website for specific details
Track Info  

Weedsport Speedway

1 Speedway Drive

Weedsport, NY, 13166

Track Phone
(315) 834-3067
Ticket Phone
844-347-8849
Track Size
0.375
Track Type
D-shaped clay
Closest Airport
Whitford Airport
Other Airport
Syracuse Hancock International
Pit Gate Location
Towpath Road Weedsport NY 13166
Track Map
Competitor Info  

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