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World of Outlaws Dennis Roth Classic
Thunderbowl Raceway | Tulare, California
Friday, September 20, 2024
Race Recap  

THUNDERBOWL THRILLER: David Gravel Tops Wild Dennis Roth Classic Opener

The point leader arises victorious from four-leader Feature at Tulare for 14th win of season

Thunderbowl Raceway delivered yet again.

The California oval always produces some of the best Sprint Car racing in the country. A cushion right against the fence. A technical but fast bottom. Passing everywhere you look. And the Thunderbowl lived up to all the hype on Friday as the Dennis Roth Classic weekend kicked off.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars rolled into town for the first time in two years and gave the fans 30 laps on non-stop excitement. Four different competitors led laps all looking to write various stories of victory. A home state hero now on the World of Outlaws tour in search of a triumphant homecoming. A local eying his first Series win against the nation’s best. A Pennsylvanian looking for a late season surge. And perhaps the country’s most dominant driver hoping to shake a slump.

Ultimately it was the final scenario that played out as David Gravel navigated through a subpar first half of the main event before piecing together a fierce charge to victory. The current point leader with The Greatest Show on Dirt started sixth, slipped back to seventh, and rallied to take the lead on Lap 19 and never looked back.

“We were not good in the Dash at all, and Cody (Jacobs), Stephen (Hamm-Reilly), and Zach (Patterson) changed a bunch of stuff there for the Feature,” Gravel said. “And the car was really good. Hats off to them for rebounding really well there. Just a much needed win for our team.

“It’s Sprint Car racing. A lot of good competition here. Every night is going to be a fight. Obviously, for our confidence, it’s going to help us a bunch. We just haven’t been in position to even lead laps really even if we finish on the podium or top five. We haven’t had the opportunity to lead laps. Tonight was maybe looking the same way, but things went our way, found a lane that worked, and our car was really, really good.”

The victory was Gravel’s 14th of the season with the World of Outlaws and ended a 14-race winless streak dating back to July 28 at Weedsport Speedway. His 15th overall Sprint Car checkered flag of 2024 puts him in a tie with Anthony Macri as the country’s winningest driver. Gravel’s third Tulare triumph equals him with Donny Schatz for the second most at the 1/3 mile, and a weekend sweep would equal him with Tim Kaeding and Joey Saldana for the most.

It was Fresno, CA’s Giovanni Scelzi bringing the field to green with Roseville, CA’s Colby Copeland alongside. Scelzi jumped out to the early advantage while D.J. Netto slid ahead of Copeland on the opening lap to take second.

Scelzi opened up the advantage through the early laps while cars throughout the pack jockeyed for spots. Gravel dropped to seventh on Lap 6 as Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Bill Balog drove around him.

The introduction of traffic into the equation ignited a wild war for the top spot. Netto began to reel in the KCP Racing No. 18 piloted by Scelzi. On the ninth circuit Netto showed him a nose in Turns 3 and 4. And then one lap later he fired a slider in the same set of corners to grab the top spot.

Netto then looked to put some distance between himself and the field as he chased his first career World of Outlaws victory. Disaster nearly struck when he almost got together with a lapped car entering Turn 3, but he rebounded by turning under the car and clearing him exiting Turn 4.

The bid for his first Series win ended when Netto smacked the Turn 2 wall on Lap 16. The contact allowed both Logan Schuchart and Kofoid to drive around him.

Behind them Gravel was suddenly on the move having gotten the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 rolling on the bottom. The Watertown, CT native was seventh on Lap 13. Four trips around the track later he took third. On Lap 18 he rolled by Kofoid for second. Then on the following lap Schuchart slipped up ever so slightly exiting Turn 4, but it was all the space Gravel needed as he motored by the Shark Racing No. 1S.

David Gravel chases Logan Schuchart at Thunderbowl Raceway
Gravel had the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 rolling on the bottom at the Thunderbowl (Trent Gower Photo)

That moved punctuated an exhilarating 10-lap stretch of swapping the top spot. Once Gravel had the lead, there was no stopping him. He stretched the advantage to more than four seconds and crossed the finish line comfortably ahead.

“I fell back to sixth or seventh or eighth there,” Gravel recalled. “Buddy and Balog passed me with their hair on fire sliding across. I was running up there and didn’t feel that great, and then I sniffed the bottom one time in (Turns) 3 and 4 and felt pretty good and then figured it out. I kind of had that lane a little bit to myself. Logan sniffed it out there. Gio started falling back and then Netto got in the wall. I just was trying to be patient, and it worked out really good.”

Schuchart brought the Shark Racing machine home second. While there was a hint of disappointment after leading laps and not winning, the night proved to be overall encouraging for the Hanover, PA native at a track that hasn’t always been the kindest to him.

“I feel like the bottom was definitely the place to be,” Schuchart said. “David just did a better job than I did for a few laps there. He got underneath me in (Turns) 3 and 4, and I went in a little too hot and just didn’t stick the bottom as good as I needed to. Definitely the best I’ve felt at this place in a long time. Happy to get a podium and run up front.”

The final step of the podium belonged to Kofoid as he and Roth Motorsports continued their hot streak. They’ve now pieced together 10 consecutive finishes of fourth or better including the last six all on the podium. Dennis and Teresa’s car appears poised to be in the running for $83,000 at Saturday’s Dennis Roth Classic finale.

“I was just really stuck on the bottom,” Kofoid said of his charge from ninth. “I figured some people were probably indecisive on where to be. And since I started on the bottom, I committed to just staying down there for a while at least until it moved around. Then it got slick and dirty, and when I moved up to try and race with Logan for the lead and get around lappers, I think the top had just gotten dirtier by that point, and I let David back by. I thought we had a really good Roth Motorsports, Mobil 1, Toyota 83. It was a hectic race. I would’ve liked a yellow. I feel like we had a car capable of winning.”

Sheldon Haudenschild and D.J. Netto completed the top five.

An 18th to fourth run earned Sheldon Haudenschild the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Carson Macedo claimed his 11th Simpson Quick Time of 2024 and the 44th of his career in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heat Races One, Three, and Four belonged to Carson Macedo, D.J. Netto, and Logan Schuchart. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to David Gravel.

Giovanni Scelzi topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Cole Macedo won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Giovanni Scelzi.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars compete for a massive $83,000 payday at Thunderbowl Raceway’s Dennis Roth Classic finale on Saturday, Sept. 21. Tickets will be available at the gate.

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[6]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4]; 3. 83-Michael Kofoid[9]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[18]; 5. 88N-DJ Netto[3]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog[7]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 9. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[11]; 10. 17W-Shane Golobic[12]; 11. 5V-Colby Copeland[2]; 12. 3-Kaleb Montgomery[15]; 13. 2X-Justin Sanders[14]; 14. 45-Landon Brooks[8]; 15. O-Tim Kaeding[19]; 16. 15-Donny Schatz[24]; 17. 10-Dominic Gorden[20]; 18. 29-Bud Kaeding[10]; 19. 57W-Jock Goodyer[13]; 20. 18T-Tanner Holmes[22]; 21. 88A-Joey Ancona[16]; 22. 7S-Landon Crawley[17]; 23. 21-Cole Macedo[21]; 24. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[23]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

[Read More]
Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
16+52David Gravel 300.00012Running150$12,000
24+21SLogan Schuchart 30-3.9383Running146$8,000
39+683Michael Kofoid 30-4.880Running144$5,000
418+1417Sheldon Haudenschild 30-6.798Running142$3,200
53-288ND.J. Netto 30-8.3656Running140$2,800
65-141Carson Macedo 30-9.218Running138$2,600
77017BBill Balog 30-9.863Running136$2,400
81-718Giovanni Scelzi 30-10.1989Running134$2,300
911+241SDominic Scelzi 30-12.367Running132$2,200
1012+217WShane Golobic 30-12.400Running130$2,000
112-95VColby Copeland 30-12.923Running128$1,800
1215+33Kaleb Montgomery 30-13.275Running126$1,600
1314+12XJustin Sanders 30-13.589Running124$1,400
148-645Landon Brooks 30-14.520Running122$1,200
1519+4OTim Kaeding 30-15.001Running120$1,200
1624+815Donny Schatz 30-16.636Running118$1,200
1720+310Dominic Gorden 29-1 LapsRunning116$1,200
1810-829Bud Kaeding 29-1 LapsRunning114$1,200
1913-657WJock Goodyer 29-1 LapsRunning112$1,200
2022+218TTanner Holmes 29-1 LapsRunning110$1,200
2116-588AJoey Ancona 29-1 LapsRunning108$1,200
2217-57SLandon Crawley 29-1 LapsRunning106$1,200
2321-221Cole Macedo 29-1 LapsRunning104$1,200
2423-13ZBrock Zearfoss 29-1 LapsRunning102$1,200
KSE Hard Charger: Sheldon Haudenschild
Last Chance Showdown 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11021Cole Macedo 00.000Running0$0
22018TTanner Holmes 0-1.712Running0$0
3303ZBrock Zearfoss 0-2.308Running0$0
44015Donny Schatz 0-5.188Running0$0
55023Garet Williamson 0-57.009Running0$500
66017AUJamie Veal 0-6.738Running0$400
78+1121Caeden Steele 0-7.291Running0$350
87-1X1Chance Grasty 0-7.711Running0$300
910+183TTanner Carrick 0-10.415Running0$300
109-167Grant Duinkerken 0-13.003Running0$300
1112+16Lachy McDonough 0-13.383Running0$200
1214+212BDawson Faria 0-14.616Running0$200
1315+22KGauge Garcia 0-19.535Running0$200
1411-370Kraig Kinser 0-20.431Running0$200
1513-283VDylan Bloomfield 0-0.689Running0$200
161605DConnor Danell 0-4.133Running0$200
1717088Austin McCarl 0182.597Running0$200
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11018Giovanni Scelzi 00.000Running0$0
2205VColby Copeland 0-1.079Running0$0
33088ND.J. Netto 0-1.873Running0$0
45+11SLogan Schuchart 0-2.722Running0$0
57+241Carson Macedo 0-3.448Running0$0
64-22David Gravel 0-4.735Running0$0
78+117BBill Balog 0-5.721Running0$0
86-245Landon Brooks 0-5.999Running0$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11041Carson Macedo 00.000Running
22045Landon Brooks 0-1.750Running
33083Michael Kofoid 0-2.840Running
44057WJock Goodyer 0-5.117Running
56+17SLandon Crawley 0-5.546Running
65-121Cole Macedo 0-6.778Running
78+123Garet Williamson 0-7.963Running
89+167Grant Duinkerken 0-11.052Running
97-283VDylan Bloomfield 0-11.296Running
1010088Austin McCarl 0118.895Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+12David Gravel 00.000Running
21-118Giovanni Scelzi 0-1.373Running
34+129Bud Kaeding 0-3.404Running
43-12XJustin Sanders 0-4.088Running
56+117Sheldon Haudenschild 0-5.112Running
65-118TTanner Holmes 0-6.256Running
78+117AUJamie Veal 0-6.983Running
87-183TTanner Carrick 0-8.550Running
99012BDawson Faria 0-10.456Running
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+188ND.J. Netto 00.000Running
21-117BBill Balog 0-1.860Running
34+141SDominic Scelzi 0-3.466Running
43-13Kaleb Montgomery 0-3.585Running
56+1OTim Kaeding 0-4.588Running
65-13ZBrock Zearfoss 0-5.570Running
770X1Chance Grasty 0-6.754Running
88070Kraig Kinser 0-9.241Running
9902KGauge Garcia 0-10.039Running
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+11SLogan Schuchart 00.000Running
21-15VColby Copeland 0-2.571Running
33017WShane Golobic 0-4.782Running
44088AJoey Ancona 0-5.852Running
56+110Dominic Gorden 0-6.940Running
65-115Donny Schatz 0-7.084Running
770121Caeden Steele 0-8.548Running
8806Lachy McDonough 0-10.240Running
9905DConnor Danell 0-12.538Running
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
11041Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.1080.000
22018Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.1080.000
33417BBill Balog North Pole, AK13.274-0.166
465VColby Copeland Roseville, CA13.342-0.234
52145Landon Brooks Yuba City, CA13.344-0.236
612David Gravel Watertown, CT13.364-0.256
73288ND.J. Netto Hanford, CA13.364-0.256
8351SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.404-0.296
9483Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA13.408-0.300
1072XJustin Sanders Aromas, CA13.414-0.306
11253Kaleb Montgomery Templeton, CA13.476-0.368
121717WShane Golobic Fremont, CA13.509-0.401
131157WJock Goodyer Riverside, TAS13.511-0.403
141829Bud Kaeding San Jose, CA13.512-0.404
152941SDominic Scelzi Fresno, CA13.525-0.417
161288AJoey Ancona Concord, CA13.534-0.426
172621Cole Macedo Lemoore, CA13.536-0.428
183018TTanner Holmes Jacksonville, OR13.554-0.446
1983ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.610-0.502
201415Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.610-0.502
21277SLandon Crawley Benton, AR13.611-0.503
221517Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.676-0.568
232OTim Kaeding San Jose, CA13.702-0.594
24510Dominic Gorden Clovis, CA13.788-0.680
253383VDylan Bloomfield Oakley, CA13.800-0.692
262283TTanner Carrick Lincoln, CA13.800-0.692
2736X1Chance Grasty Suisun City, CA13.814-0.706
2824121Caeden Steele Fresno, CA13.849-0.741
292323Garet Williamson Columbia, MO13.855-0.747
30917AUJamie Veal Warrnambool, VIC13.900-0.792
311370Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN13.933-0.825
32166Lachy McDonough Greenacres, SA13.983-0.875
333167Grant Duinkerken Riverdale, CA14.187-1.079
341912BDawson Faria Tipton, CA14.276-1.168
35282KGauge Garcia Lemoore, CA14.347-1.239
36375DConnor Danell Visalia, CA14.642-1.534
37388Austin McCarl Altoona, IA60.000-46.892
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1351SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.4560.000
23288ND.J. Netto Hanford, CA13.492-0.036
32018Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.578-0.122
42145Landon Brooks Yuba City, CA13.599-0.143
52941SDominic Scelzi Fresno, CA13.631-0.175
6277SLandon Crawley Benton, AR13.660-0.204
71717WShane Golobic Fremont, CA13.769-0.313
83018TTanner Holmes Jacksonville, OR13.770-0.314
93417BBill Balog North Pole, AK13.815-0.359
10253Kaleb Montgomery Templeton, CA13.854-0.398
112621Cole Macedo Lemoore, CA13.941-0.485
1236X1Chance Grasty Suisun City, CA13.964-0.508
132283TTanner Carrick Lincoln, CA13.974-0.518
141517Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH14.011-0.555
15483Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA14.054-0.598
1612David Gravel Watertown, CT14.123-0.667
172323Garet Williamson Columbia, MO14.145-0.689
183167Grant Duinkerken Riverdale, CA14.242-0.786
19282KGauge Garcia Lemoore, CA14.265-0.809
201041Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA14.299-0.843
212OTim Kaeding San Jose, CA14.312-0.856
221157WJock Goodyer Riverside, TAS14.319-0.863
23166Lachy McDonough Greenacres, SA14.338-0.882
241415Donny Schatz Fargo, ND14.340-0.884
2565VColby Copeland Roseville, CA14.343-0.887
2683ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA14.351-0.895
2772XJustin Sanders Aromas, CA14.357-0.901
283383VDylan Bloomfield Oakley, CA14.367-0.911
29375DConnor Danell Visalia, CA14.427-0.971
30388Austin McCarl Altoona, IA14.448-0.992
31917AUJamie Veal Warrnambool, VIC14.531-1.075
32510Dominic Gorden Clovis, CA14.677-1.221
331288AJoey Ancona Concord, CA14.684-1.228
3424121Caeden Steele Fresno, CA14.761-1.305
351912BDawson Faria Tipton, CA14.772-1.316
361829Bud Kaeding San Jose, CA14.876-1.420
371370Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN15.024-1.568
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

World of Outlaws Dennis Roth Classic
Friday, September 20th to Saturday, September 21st
Thunderbowl Raceway
Bardsley & K Street
Tulare, California 93274 

Event Description
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are coming back to Tulare and ready to bang the boards at The Thunderbowl!
The Dennis Roth Classic brings The Greatest Show on Dirt to Tulare for two nights in September. As a nod to Roth's dedication to the sport and his famed #83, the winner of the finale is going home with $83,000.

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

To Win Amount
$12,000.00

Event Schedule

Gates Open: 4:00 PM
Hot Laps/Time Trials: 6:00 PM


*All times Pacific

Ticket Options  
Ticket Phone
(559) 688-0909

Options And Prices


Adult Grandstand: $55/ Bleacher: $50
Seniors Grandstand: $53/ Bleacher: $48
Kids Grandstand (6-12): $28/ Bleacher: $23
Kids 5 & Under: Free



Grandstand Type
http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com/fan-info/seating-chart/

Handicapped Seating Location
Section F. Reserved seats are required. Companion seating is available.

Pit Pass Price

Adult Pit Pass: $60



Pit Age Requirement
16 or older

Camping Availability
onsite

Camping Cost
call 559-686-4707 for information.

Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$12,000.00

Type of Grandstand
http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com/fan-info/seating-chart/

Stadium Seating

Stadium seating chairs are allowed as long as they don't impede seats around you.



Handicapped Seating
Section F. Reserved seats are required. Companion seating is available.

Pit Age Limit
16 or older

Personal Coolers
No personal coolers are allowed.

Alcohol Sales
Alcohol is available for purchase at the track

Smoking Policy
No smoking allowed in the grandstands

Camping Availability
onsite

Camping Cost
call 559-686-4707 for information.

Track Info  

Thunderbowl Raceway
Bardsley & K Street
Tulare, California 93274 

Track Phone
(559) 688-0909

Ticket Phone
(559) 688-0909

Track Size
0.333

Track Map
Competitor Info  

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