BRANDON, S.D. — There may be no stopping Michael “Buddy” Kofoid this week at Huset’s Speedway.
The 24-year-old entered the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals as the clear-cut favorite. Heading into Wednesday’s Hefty Seed Huset’s Hustle prelim, Kofoid had won five of the last seven World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car visits to the third-mile including the last three straight. The two nights he didn’t win? He finished second and third. That stretch includes a trio of six-figure paydays.
All eyes were on Kofoid to see how he and the Roth Motorsports crew would perform as the four straight days of racing for massive money began, and they didn’t fold under the pressure at all. Kofoid opened racing by ripping to the victory. A four pill in the redraw lined him up outside row two for the 35-lapper, and that proved to be no challenge.
It took Kofoid only 15 circuits to rocket from fourth to the front, driving by Christopher Thram for the lead. Things got a little interesting when Sheldon Haudenschild closed in after Kofoid tripped on the cushion in Turns 3 and 4.
But it didn’t take long for the Penngrove, Calif., native to pad his lead back to a comfortable margin and drive away to victory and bank $20,000.
“Dylan (Buswell), Nate (Knotts), and Gage (Tyra) did an extremely good job all night,” Kofoid said. “I don’t know what else to say. They just keep giving me a car that I can just run wherever I want and make passes and make speed I don’t want to say easily, but it just comes so naturally. That’s all thanks to them.”
Kofoid has now topped six of the last eight trips to Huset’s. His seventh overall Huset’s score equals him with Steve Kinser for third most all time. He’s now won four in a row there, which ties Mark Kinser for the longest streak in World of Outlaws history. And perhaps the most important number is that he’s first in points heading into Thursday’s $150,000-to-win Hefty Seed Huset’s Hustle finale.
That’ll put him on the pole of the opening heat race, and if he’s able to win, that’ll guarantee the Toyota Racing No. 83 a front row spot to go after a fourth straight six-figure check at Huset’s.
Sheldon Haudenschild brought the KCP Racing No. 18 home second to continue their hot streak with four podiums in a row. That also slotted him second in points and in a great spot to go after $150,000 Thursday.
Garet Williamson finished third in the Fischer Motorsports No. 23 for his fourth career World of Outlaws podium and second at Huset’s.
Like the two ahead, his Wednesday finishing position mirrors where he’s at in points for Thursday. Williamson will start on the pole of the third heat.
Austin McCarl and Cole Macedo completed the top five.
The finish:
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 2. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 3. 23-Garet Williamson[7]; 4. 88-Austin McCarl[5]; 5. 2C-Cole Macedo[10]; 6. 22K-Kaleb Johnson[1]; 7. 9R-Chase Randall[14]; 8. 27-Emerson Axsom[3]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz[9]; 10. 24T-Christopher Thram[2]; 11. 9-Daison Pursley[8]; 12. 11-Justin Henderson[11]; 13. 2-David Gravel[12]; 14. 17-Spencer Bayston[22]; 15. 16C-Skylar Gee[16]; 16. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[21]; 17. 45X-Rees Moran[19]; 18. 10-Ryan Timms[20]; 19. 7S-Chris Windom[23]; 20. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[18]; 21. 25-Jy Corbet[24]; 22. 80P-Jacob Peterson[13]; 23. 17B-Bill Balog[17]; 24. 41-Carson Macedo[15]
