The 2021 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season is underway.
The 2021 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season is underway.
Despite the hinderances COVID-19 presented last year, the series showed its true grit, overcoming every challenge and presenting an unforgettable season with races that will be etched in the minds of fans for generations.
This season is poised to present the same level of exhilaration, if not more.
A 90-plus race season has begun, with the series set to visit 28 states and making its debut at four new tracks. The tour launched with the February 5-7 season-opener at Volusia Speedway Park, during the 50th DIRTcar Nationals, the series‘ return to Bristol Motor Speedway, April 22-24, two Kings Royals at Eldora Speedway, July 15 & July 17, and the return to Knoxville Raceway for the 60th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals, August 11-14.
At the time of this piece‘s creation, there are 16 stout drivers projected to compete fulltime with the series — returning champions, rising young guns and vigorous veterans
Jacob Allen (Hanover, PA)
Mason Daniel (Springville, CA)
David Gravel (Watertown, CT)
Sheldon Haudenschild (Wooster, OH)
Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK)
Kraig Kinser (Bloomington, IN)
Carson Macedo (Lemoore, CA)
James McFadden (Warrnambool,
VIC, Australia)
Parker Price-Miller (Kokomo, IN)
Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX)
Bill Rose (Plainfield, IN)
Donny Schatz (Fargo, ND)
Logan Schuchart (Hanover, PA)
Jason Sides (Bartlett, TN)
Brad Sweet (Grass Valley, CA)
Brock Zearfoss (Jonestown, PA)
And maybe more…
ROBUST ROOKIES
Among that field is one of the most competitive rookie classes in recent history. This year‘s Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year contending group includes three-time All Star Circuit of Champions title-holder Aaron Reutzel, 2021 Western Australia Speedweek champion and 2017 Port Royal track champion Brock Zearfoss, two-time World of Outlaws winner Parker Price-Miller, and five-time Australian World Series Sprintcars champion James McFadden.
Reutzel will no longer have to field questions about when he‘ll make the move to the World of Outlaws, as he joins Roth Motorsports for the 2021 season. Kasey Kahne Racing is bringing the No. 9 car back to run the full schedule with McFadden as its driver. Zearfoss and Price-Miller are taking on the task of managing their own teams for the entire tour.
Adding to their credibility of joining the tour this year, all four have already experienced the glory of a World of Outlaws win. Zearfoss earned his sole WoO victory at Williams Grove Speedway in 2017. Reutzel earned his first at Thunderbowl Raceway in 2018 and his second at Perris Auto Speedway in 2019. Price-Miller, aka “The Lawfirm,” picked up his first win in 2017 at Tri-State Speedway and then claimed his second last year at 34 Raceway while driving for Dietz Motorsports. And, McFadden has claimed two WoO victories, his first at Williams Grove Speedway in 2017 and his most recent at Lake Ozark Speedway with Kasey Kahne Racing last year.
Price-Miller is the youngest of the bunch, at 22 years old — Reutzel and Zearfoss are both 30, and McFadden is 31 — but has the most starts. He‘s started 126 World of Outlaws events, while McFadden has started 94, Reutzel has started 77, and Zearfoss has started 57.
“As a team, I think we‘re going to be really good,” Price-Miller said. “As a team, I don‘t think we‘re going to show up and always run the Last Chance Showdown and be a field filler. We‘re going to be a contender. In the back of my head, I have high expectations for us. But I also have realistic expectations and don‘t want to think too high, also.”
Due to extenuating circumstances that are keeping McFadden in Australia, he‘ll miss the season-opening events at Volusia Speedway Park during the 50th DIRTcar Nationals and possibly a couple of races after. Until he‘s able to make it over to the states, Kasey Kahne will drive the Karavan No. 9 car. Due to the circumstances, McFadden will get show-up points for the races he misses.