CONCORD, N.C. –Â Last week, one of the rarest achievements in World of Outlaws racing was accomplished again; this time by Kyle Larson.
Countless racers have realized their dreams of competing with either the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series or the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series come true.
How many can say they’ve done both, though? Very few.
For the first time since 2016, a new member was added to this unique crew when Larson made his debut with the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series to go along with his 20 World of Outlaws Sprint Car wins.
The list of 14 and counting is chalked full of legends and local heroes alike.
From World of Outlaws champions Donny Schatz, Dave Blaney and Rick Eckert; to all-around motorsport icons Tony Stewart, Ken Schrader, Brett Hearn, Billy Pauch; to the lower-level legends like John Garvin Jr., Dave Murdick, David Scott, Charlie Swartz, John Vandenberg and Larry Wight; this crowd has it all.
Let’s take a look at these guys and their accomplishments:
Kyle Larson
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars – 94 Starts / 20 Wins
World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models – 2 Starts / Best Finish: 8th
The newest member of this elite group, Larson made his World of Outlaws Late Model Series debut last week at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in record-setting fashion. Setting Fast Time both nights, Larson walked away with a new track record (14.183 seconds) and established his career-best with the series as an eighth-place run in his second night out. To go along with his new adventure into late model land, the 28-year old Larson already has 20 World of Outlaws Sprint Car wins to his credit, 12 of which came in his earth-shattering 2020 campaign.
Although he’s heading back to the NASCAR Cup Series to race for Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, Yung Money has stated he’ll still be competing on dirt when available. He even expressed interest in making his first attempt at the iconic Prairie Dirt Classic, a $50,000-to-win World of Outlaws Late Model event set for July 30-31, 2021 at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway.
Donny Schatz
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars – 1,882 Starts / 299 Wins
World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models – 22 Starts / Best Finish: 3rd
The ten-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car champion holds a resume with the wings that is more than guaranteed to earn him a ticket to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame one day, but did you know Donny is even a maestro with the fenders on? Strapping into his own Rocket Chassis No. 15 late model when his Tony Stewart Racing No. 15 sprint car sits idle, Schatz has said he enjoys late models for the challenge, while it still presents an opportunity to have fun on a less-serious scale.
A winner of 299 career World of Outlaws Sprint Car features, Schatz first attempted the World of Outlaws Late Models in 2014. He quickly established his career-best of third-place at his home track of River Cities (N.D.) Speedway on July 10, 2015; in only his eighth-career start, Schatz was only beaten by soon-to-be National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famers Tim McCreadie and Josh Richards.
Tony Stewart
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars – 48 Starts / 3 Wins
World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models – 2 Starts / Best Finish: 16th
As a three-time NASCAR Cup Series, IndyCar champion, and USAC triple crown champion, it’s no surprise to see Stewart’s name on this list of diverse drivers. Smoke is a three-time winner on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car trail, recording victories at Ohsweken (Can.) Speedway in 2011-12 and another at Lernerville (Pa.) Speedway in 2012.
His only two career starts with the World of Outlaws Late Models came at Eldora (Ohio) Speedway, a track he owns, in the summer of 2007 and 2008.
Dave Blaney
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars – 508 Starts / 94 Wins
World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models – 2 Starts / Best Finish: 16th
Another versatile talent, the elder Blaney brother has an extensive NASCAR Cup Series career (473 races) to go along with his 1984 USAC Silver Crown title and prestigious 1995 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship. A 2014 inductee to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, Dave made two appearances with the World of Outlaws Late Models throughout his career.
His late model debut came on June 26, 2004 at Sharon Speedway, a track which he owns. He ended up 16th that night and returned to a late model four years later when he made his most recent appearance at Delaware International Speedway.
Rick Eckert
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars – 1 Start / Best Finish: LCS
World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models – 618 Starts / 37 Wins
A legend on the World of Outlaws Late Model trail, Eckert owns the record for most feature starts in series history at 618. His 37 victories rank sixth on the all-time wins list and he’s a perennial top five candidate in every other major statistical category. At 54 years old, Scrub is still a consistent contender with The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet, proving that with his runner-up result at this year’s $50,000-to-win USA Nationals at Cedar Lake (Wis.) Speedway.
His lone attempt with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series came way back in 1989, when a then 24-year old Rick drove his father Junior Eckert’s No. 0 against The Greatest Show on Dirt at Lincoln (Pa.) Speedway just down the road from his home in York.
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