The sight of white tents selling fireworks across the country means the annual Fourth of July break has arrived.
For some, it’s a needed break; a time to reset. For others, you just can’t pull them out of a race car.
Before the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series resumes its 2026 tour with a trip north to Hartford Speedway on Thursday, July 9, and Wilmot Raceway on Friday-Saturday, July 10-11, the stars of the Series have carved out time for family and laps.
Logan Schuchart and Carson Macedo took advantage of extra track time against the Pennsylvania Posse Monday night, competing in the Steve Smith Tribute Race at Lincoln Speedway. While the Posse may try to claim it as a win against the Outlaws – the current holders of the Morgan Cup – with Schuchart finishing fourth and Macedo finishing sixth, the official battle resumes in late July with races at BAPS Motor Speedway for the World of Outlaws Bricker’s Bash (July 29) and Williams Grove Speedway for the World of Outlaws C&D Rigging Summer Nationals (July 31-Aug. 1).
But for the rest of the week, Macedo is trading the heat of an engine for the heat of a grill.
“Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays,” he said. “Luckily for me, the Tarlton family always puts on a big shindig at home, at their house. So, fly back to Fresno, going to be at my house for a week, which for me is an off week from racing. Being home is probably my favorite place. We’re going to go up to Shaver Lake for one of the days on Wednesday, and then Friday-Saturday have a big Fourth of July cookout. Going to cook some brisket on the smoker and bring it over there and serve it to everybody. So, yeah, just kind of a family Fourth of July, jump in the pool, light off some fireworks, and have some fun.”
He and Buddy Kofoid enter the break tied for second in the championship standings, sitting 86 points behind David Gravel. Kofoid, who currently has the most wins this season with eight, put together a streak of 13 straight top 10s in the last month, including back-to-back runner-up results at Cedar Lake Speedway.
Throughout that time, though, Kofoid stayed on the road. The off week is a chance for him to get home and enjoy some family time before the fight for the title resumes.
“I haven’t been home to my house since the week before we ran the Knoxville/Huset’s weekend,” Kofoid said. “So, after Cedar Lake, I’ll fly home for a few days, and then I actually fly to California for my sister’s engagement party and spend some time with family. I haven’t been home for a while. Be there, celebrate that. Then try to get back to my home for a few more days before we start up again.”
Spencer Bayston is taking a similar approach. It’s all about family this week.
“First bit, we have some family function festivities at home, Fourth of July week,” he said. “Going into the weekend, always a good parade in my hometown, pool party afterwards. Spend some time at some friends’ houses and then going to Denver, Colorado, into the foothills to be at my wife’s family’s place. Going to spend a little bit of time in the mountains and come back and get ready to go racing again.”
Navigating his first full season with Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing, Bayston currently sits 10th in points, 42 points behind fellow NOS Energy Drink driver Chris Windom. Since winning at Volusia Speedway Park in February, he and the team have gone through ups and downs, but have had solid runs recently, including a top-10 run in the Huset’s High Banks Nationals finale.
Garet Williamson, the reigning Five Star Bodies Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, has been one of the most improved drivers this year, especially in the last month. He’s had 10 top-10 finishes in the last 12 races, including a third-place run in the last race at Cedar Lake – his third podium in that time span. And he’s not looking to put a pause on that momentum during the off week.
He and Crew Chief Chad “Chaddy” Cypert are taking the Fischer Motorsports No. 23 to Knoxville Raceway on July 4 – which will be broadcast live on DIRTVision – to continue to build their notebook for the 65th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s (Aug. 12-15).
“We’ll go test Friday at Knoxville and race Saturday,” Williamson said. “Any laps you can get at Knoxville are crucial. I ran there weekly, so I enjoy going there. I think Chaddy does too; he likes to build his notebook there, and I feel like this year we’ve gotten a little bit better. I don’t think you can ever be happy with where you’re at there. I think that’s kind of go build our notebook and get ready for August. Any laps I can get in a race car, I love. I love racing. So, yeah, off week, the boys are going home to see their family. I don’t remember if it was Chaddy asking me if I wanted to race or vice versa, but we’ll go to Knoxville’s weekly show and learn some stuff.”
With over 40 races still to go this season, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will be racing every week when the road to the World of Outlaws World Finals resumes next week.
Some use that as a reason to rest. Others just can’t stop racing.
For tickets to World of Outlaws events, click here.
Where can you watch every World of Outlaws race live? On DIRTVision, either online or through the app.