The 59th annual Champion Racing Oil National Open has finally arrived.
Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA is the place to be this weekend as the $75,000-to-win Crown Jewel offers an epic battle between the PA Posse and the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.
If you can’t be there yourself, you can watch Every Lap LIVE on DIRTVision.
NATIONAL OPEN TICKETS (Fri-Sat)
Let’s study up on some of the top storylines to follow:
FIVE FORMER CHAMPS: Through 59 runnings, only 34 men have earned the right to put National Open champion on their resume. This weekend, five of those 34 drivers will return to Williams Grove with hopes of adding another gem belt to their closet.
Leading the charge is Donny Schatz, the winningest driver in event history with an unprecedented six titles to his credit. Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing enter the 2021 edition as defending champions, looking to be the first back-to-back winners since Donny himself did it in 2004 and 2005.
While Schatz is the Outlaws front-man, Lance Dewease is the unrivaled leader of the PA Posse. He’s got four National Open belts with four different car owners, most recently aboard the Kreitz #69K in 2018. He enters this weekend with momentum from a seventh Williams Grove track championship, which came during a year in which the Fayetteville, PA native exceeded 100+ wins at the facility.
The only other multi-time champion in attendance this weekend will be David Gravel, who won in 2014 with Roth Motorsports and 2017 with CJB Motorsports. Now he’ll give it a go with Big Game Motorsports, a team he’s already won 10 races with in their first year together.
Other Posse members with a National Open score include Danny Dietrich in 2016 and Brent Marks in 2019. A win for either would make them the 13th driver in history with multiple National Open titles.
SECOND NO MORE: Daryn Pittman returns to the National Open this weekend, this time aboard the Swindell Speedlab, Shipley Energy #39. A 17-time winner at Williams Grove, six of Pittman’s checkered flags are included in his 84-win career with the World of Outlaws. However, achingly enough, none have came at the National Open.
The future National Sprint Car Hall of Fame has been so close, so many times, but still chases an elusive breakthrough at the event. He owns the record for most runner-up finishes at the National Open, and has finished second to five different drivers in his five second-place efforts. There was Donny Schatz in 2005, then Jason Meyers in 2011, then Fred Rahmer in 2013, then Lance Dewease in 2018, and Brent Marks in 2019.
With Kevin Swindell on the wrenches, who also eyes his first World of Outlaws win as a car owner, Pittman hopes to finally break the streak and score a $75,000 National Open title this weekend,
THE CONCRETE KID: Dillsburg, PA’s Anthony Macri enters this year’s National Open with more momentum than ever. The PA Posse favorite competed at Williams Grove on 87 occasions with zero 410 Sprint Car wins from 2016-2021, but then this summer happened. On August 20, 2021, the #39M tamed the 1/2-mile for the first time in his career. A month later, he beat the All Star Circuit of Champions on September 17. Better yet, both victories came directly over Williams Grove’s all-time winningest driver, Lance Dewease.
The cherry on top, Macri banked $20,000 at Selinsgrove’s Jim Nace Memorial National Open last weekend over Danny Dietrich. Now, he’ll look to keep the hot streak alive with the biggest win of his life on the line this Saturday night in the 59th National Open.
YOUNG STARS SHINING: Both Carson Macedo and Sheldon Haudenschild earned their first World of Outlaws wins at Williams Grove earlier this year. Macedo did so during May’s Morgan Cup and Haudenschild during July’s Summer Nationals. Now they both look for a career-best run in October’s National Open.
Haudenschild and the NOS Energy Drink #17 finished top-five in last year’s National Open, but Macedo has yet to appear in the top-10 during three tries at the event. Both drivers will be ones to watch this weekend in the $75,000-to-win.
LINEUP IS KEY: Since the turn of the century, the National Open has only been won once from outside the first four rows of the Feature lineup with that being Dewease from 13th in 2002. Since then, the average starting position of 18 National Open winners is 2.66. Over the last 20 events, 13 have been won from the front row with seven of those won from the pole position.
INDY INVADERS: When the National Open rolls around, it’s not just Outlaws vs. Posse, there’s Invaders too. Indiana’s Bernie Stuebgen is bringing two different invaders with him as he’ll crew chief for the KCP Racing #18 with Giovanni Scelzi and field his own Indy Race Parts #71 for Justin Henderson.
Williams Grove will always be a special site for Scelzi, who became the youngest winner in track history and the youngest winner in World of Outlaws history with his National Open prelim win on September 28, 2018. The Fresno, CA native has continued to show speed in Mechanicsburg, nearly beating Aaron Reutzel to win this May’s Morgan Cup. He’ll attempt his fourth National Open this weekend.
A native of South Dakota, Justin Henderson is no stranger to Central Pennsylvania. He produced three Williams Grove wins in 2010-11 while driving the Sorokach #35, and has two top-five finishes in the National Open, one of those coming aboard the Kreitz #69K in 2015. This weekend, he’ll be aboard the Indy Race Parts #71 with $75,000 on the line.0
SWEET’S KRYPTONITE: No track in the entire world has hindered Brad Sweet quite like Williams Grove Speedway. The Californian has appeared at the tight, paper-clip 1/2-mile on 48 occasions, but he has never experienced victory lane in front of the Beer Hill Gang. The reigning Outlaws champion has finished a career-best third three different times, including the 2016 National Open.
However, it’s worth noting that The Big Cat has done an exceptionally well job of taming the tracks that once derailed him this year specifically. He conquered Lincoln (PA), Grand Forks (ND), and Skagit (WA), now has his sights set on finally getting the Mechanicsburg monkey off his back. The Kasey Kahne Racing, NAPA Auto Parts #49 currently leads the championship chase by +120 points with nine races left.
WHAT GRAVEL NEEDS: Opposite to Sweet in the championship chase is David Gravel, who unlike Sweet more than has Williams Grove figured out. It’s the winningest track of his World of Outlaws career, with 8 of his 68 career wins coming at the Mechanicsburg 1/2-mile.
Among those eight wins is two National Open titles, a controversial 2014 win with Roth Motorsports and a dominant 2017 score with CJB Motorsports. He’s also got four wins at the track with Jason Johnson Racing, and now tries to put the Big Game Motorsports #2 in victory lane. The timing of Williams Grove is perfect for the Watertown, CT native, as he attempts to cut more points off the championship deficit to Sweet with only nine races left.
PA PROUD: After three weeks on the west coast, full-time World of Outlaws teams finally returned east last week and now get to enjoy some time at their home shops.
Jonestown, PA’s Brock Zearfoss, who continues his Rookie of the Year campaign, is excited for the chance to get back to Williams Grove this week and then Port Royal next weekend. His first-career World of Outlaws win came at the Grove on July 21, 2017, and he’s been close to victory before at The Speed Palace with The Greatest Show on Dirt. The Moose’s LZ Bar & Grill #3Z has been solid in year one with the Series, collecting 21 top-10 finishes and currently sitting ninth in the standings.
Hanover, PA’s Shark Racing also returned home this week after a successful stretch on the road. Logan Schuchart, who owns four-career Williams Grove wins, is on a hot streak with three wins in the last six World of Outlaws races. He led laps at the National Open last year before matching his career-best run of third. His Drydene Performance Products teammate Jacob Allen will also be after his first-ever Williams Grove win.
NEWEST OUTLAW: Spencer Bayston, who announced on Monday that he’ll chase the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award in 2022, will debut with his new team CJB Motorsports this weekend. The Carlisle, PA-based organization will debut a new look for the #5 with Signing Day Sports and JRC Transportation signing on as new sponsors.
The Lebanon, IN native has actually won at Williams Grove before, that coming aboard a USAC Midget in the summer of 2017. When it comes to Sprint Cars at the 1/2-mile, Bayston has six appearances with a career-best of 12th in March of 2019 aboard the Pete Grove #70. He attempted the National Open for the first time last year with Roth Motorsports, but needed a provisional to start the 40-lap main event. As former champions of the National Open, CJB and Crew Chief Barry Jackson look to provide the 23-year-old with a new career-best at the Mechanicsburg oval.
THE PINK PANTHER: Justin Peck and Buch Motorsports bring back The Pink Panther #73 this weekend in honor of 1978 National Open champion and 21-time Williams Grove winner, Kramer Williamson.
Peck, a native of Monrovia, IN, has had a breakthrough year at Williams Grove since linking up with Crew Chief Sean Strausbaugh. In his first five starts at the 1/2-mile, Peck never finished better than 13th. This year alone, he’s earned his first-career win at the track, two other second-place finishes, and a third-place effort during a stacked PA Speedweek show. Now the four-time All Star Circuit of Champions winner will attempt the National Open for the first time.
This Week at a Glance – When and Where
Friday, September 24 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH
Saturday, September 25 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA
On the Internet
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
Twitter – @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – @WoOSprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsSprintCarSeries
YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month
Around the Turn: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will stick around Central Pennsylvania for a trip to The Speed Palace at Port Royal Speedway on October 8-9.
NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (14 Drivers):
16 wins – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne Racing w/ Mike Curb #49
10 wins – David Gravel, Big Game Motorsports #2
9 wins – Carson Macedo, Jason Johnson Racing #41
8 wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Stenhouse Jr. Marshall Racing #17
6 wins – Logan Schuchart, Shark Racing #1S
4 wins – Aaron Reutzel, Roth Motorsports #83
3 wins – Donny Schatz, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15
3 wins – Kyle Larson, Silva Motorsports #57
2 wins – James McFadden, Kasey Kahne Racing w/ Mike Curb #9
2 wins – Kerry Madsen, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #14
2 wins – Brent Marks, Brent Marks Racing #19
1 win – Dave Blaney, Dave Blaney #10
1 win – Spencer Bayston, Sam McGhee Motorsports #11
1 win – Tyler Courtney, Clauson-Marshall Racing #7BC
FEATURE LAPS LED (29 Drivers):
333 laps – Brad Sweet
293 laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
282 laps – Carson Macedo
242 laps – David Gravel
231 laps – Logan Schuchart
222 laps – Donny Schatz
188 laps – Aaron Reutzel
72 laps – Kyle Larson
66 laps – James McFadden
63 laps – Kerry Madsen
57 laps – Tyler Courtney
33 laps – Spencer Bayston
29 laps – Giovanni Scelzi
27 laps – Brent Marks, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
25 laps – Wayne Johnson
16 laps – Tanner Carrick
13 laps – Colby Copeland
11 laps – Sye Lynch
10 laps – Jacob Allen, Brock Zearfoss, Parker Price-Miller
9 laps – Kasey Kahne, Austin McCarl
3 laps – Ian Madsen
1 lap – Kraig Kinser, Brandon Spithaler, Dave Blaney, Brian Brown
SLICK WOODY’S QUICKTIME AWARDS (22 Drivers):
16 QuickTimes – David Gravel
7 QuickTimes – Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart
5 QuickTimes – Brad Sweet
4 QuickTimes – Carson Macedo, Kerry Madsen
3 QuickTimes – Aaron Reutzel
2 QuickTimes – James McFadden, Donny Schatz, Kasey Kahne, Cory Eliason, Giovanni Scelzi, Parker Price-Miller, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
1 QuickTime – Kraig Kinser, Jacob Allen, Danny Dietrich, Anthony Macri, Brian Brown, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Sye Lynch
DRYDENE HEAT RACE WINNERS (42 Drivers)
29 Heat Wins – David Gravel
27 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
21 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz
18 Heat Wins – Brad Sweet
16 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Aaron Reutzel
15 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart
11 Heat Wins – James McFadden
7 Heat Wins – Brian Brown
5 Heat Wins – Kraig Kinser, Kerry Madsen
4 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Jason Sides, Wayne Johnson, Giovanni Scelzi, Tyler Courtney, Ian Madsen
3 Heat Wins – Kasey Kahne, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
2 Heat Wins – Jacob Allen, Kyle Larson, DJ Netto, Parker Price-Miller
1 Heat Win – Danny Dietrich, Hunter Schuerenberg, Lance Dewease, Brandon Spithaler, Tim Kaeding, Jack Dover, Scotty Thiel, Paul McMahan, Daryn Pittman, Justin Peck, Jac Haudenschild, Sye Lynch, Chad Trout, TJ Stutts, Brent Marks, Ryan Robinson, Blake Carrick, Ayrton Gennetten
PODIUM FINISHES (28 Drivers):
34 Podiums – Brad Sweet
23 Podiums – Carson Macedo
23 Podiums – David Gravel
21 Podiums – Donny Schatz
20 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
16 Podiums – Logan Schuchart
12 Podiums – James McFadden
10 Podiums – Aaron Reutzel
6 Podiums – Kerry Madsen, Brent Marks
5 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
3 Podiums – Brian Brown, Lance Dewease, Kyle Larson
2 Podiums – Kraig Kinser, Cory Eliason, Anthony Macri, Danny Dietrich, Tyler Courtney
1 Podium – Jacob Allen, Justin Peck, Brian Brown, Anthony Macri, Dave Blaney, Spencer Bayston, Daryn Pittman, Paulie Colagiovanni, Austin McCarl, Colby Copeland, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
2021 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Fri, Feb. 5 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brad Sweet (1)
2. Sun, Feb. 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Logan Schuchart (1)
3. Fri, March 5 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Carson Macedo (1)
4. Sat, March 6 / East Bay Raceway Park / Tampa, FL / Aaron Reutzel (1)
5. Fri, March 12 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
6. Sat, March 13 / The Rev / Monroe, LA / David Gravel (1)
7. Fri, March 19 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
8. Sat, March 20 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Brad Sweet (2)
9. Sat, March 27 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, MO / Brad Sweet (3)
10. Fri, April 2 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Brad Sweet (4)
11. Sat, April 3 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Brad Sweet (5)
12. Fri, April 9 / Kokomo Speedway / Kokomo, IN / James McFadden (1)
13. Sat, April 10 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Carson Macedo (2)
14. Fri, April 22 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / David Gravel (2)
15. Sun, April 24 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / David Gravel (3)
16. Thur, April 29 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / Brad Sweet (6)
17. Fri, April 30 / I-70 Motorsports Park / Odessa, MO / Brad Sweet (7)
18. Sat, May 1 / I-70 Motorsports Park / Odessa, MO / Brad Sweet (8)
19. Sat, May 8 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Brent Marks (1)
20. Sat, May 8 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
21. Wed, May 12 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Brad Sweet (9)
22. Fri, May 14 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Carson Macedo (3)
23. Sat, May 15 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Aaron Reutzel (2)
24. Tues, May 18 / Bridgeport Speedway / Swedesboro, NJ / Logan Schuchart (2)
25. Fri, May 21 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / David Gravel (4)
26. Sat, May 22 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / Dave Blaney (1)
27. Mon, May 31 / Lawrenceburg Speedway / Lawrenceburg, IN / Kyle Larson (1)
28. Sat, June 5 / Granite City Speedway /Sauk Rapids, MN / David Gravel (5)
29. Fri, June 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Carson Macedo (4)
30. Sat, June 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Carson Macedo (5)
31. Thur, June 17 / 34 Raceway / West Burlington, IA / Brad Sweet (10)
32. Fri, June 18 / Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway / Dubuque, IA / Donny Schatz (1)
33. Sat, June 19 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
34. Mon, June 21 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / David Gravel (6)
35. Tues, June 22 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Aaron Reutzel (3)
36. Thur, June 24 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Kerry Madsen (1)
37. Fri, June 25 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Kerry Madsen (2)
38. Sat, June 27 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Logan Schuchart (3)
39. Fri, July 2 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Brad Sweet (11)
40. Sat, July 3 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Brad Sweet (12)
41. Sat, July 10 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Brad Sweet (13)
42. Tues, July 13 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Spencer Bayston (1)
43. Wed, July 14 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Carson Macedo (6)
44. Sat, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Tyler Courtney (1)
45. Sat, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Kyle Larson (2)
46. Sun, July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Carson Macedo (7)
47. Tues, July 20 / Lernerville Speedway / Sarver, PA / Brad Sweet (14)
48. Fri, July 23 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
49. Sat, July 24 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brent Marks (2)
50. Fri, July 30 / Ransomville Speedway / Ransomville, NY / Aaron Reutzel (4)
51. Sat, July 31 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (7)
52. Fri, August 6 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
53. Sat, August 7 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)
54. Wed, August 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (NP)
55. Thur, August 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brian Brown (NP)
56. Fri, August 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Rico Abreu (NP)
57. Sat, August 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (3)
58. Sat, August 21 / Red River Valley Speedway / Fargo, ND / Donny Schatz (2)
59. Sun, August 22 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / David Gravel (8)
60. Wed, August 25 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Brad Sweet (15)
61. Fri, August 27 / I-80 Speedway / Greenwood, NE / Donny Schatz (3)
62. Sun, August 29 / Black Hills Speedway / Rapid City, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (8)
63. Fri, September 3 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA / James McFadden (2)
64. Sat, September 4 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA / Brad Sweet (16)
65. Sun, September 5 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA / Carson Macedo (8)
66. Mon, September 6 / Grays Harbor Raceway / Elma, WA / Logan Schuchart (4)
67. Fri, September 10 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA / David Gravel (9)
68. Sat, September 11 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA / Logan Schuchart (5)
69. Sat, September 18 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, CA / Carson Macedo (9)
70. Fri, September 24 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Logan Schuchart (6)
71. Sat, September 25 / Lernerville Speedway / Sarver, PA / David Gravel (10)