NEW RICHMOND, Wis. — The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are set to head back to the “Badger State” for an extended stay.
Cedar Lake Speedway welcomes The Greatest Show on Dirt this weekend for two nights of action (June 28-29). Located less than an hour east of Minneapolis, the Wisconsin dirt track will extend its streak as the most visited track in the state with the Series, adding visits 53 and 54 this Friday and Saturday.
The weekend ignites a five-race stretch in Wisconsin for the World of Outlaws. After the Cedar Lake doubleheader and a weekend off, the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers head to Beaver Dam Raceway on Wednesday, July 10 for the $20,000-to-win Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial. Then, it’s off to Wilmot Raceway on July 12-13 for the Federated Auto Parts Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40.
Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:
BADGER GASSERS
There’s a trio of drivers on the 2024 World of Outlaws roster that have gotten quite comfortable on the ovals of Wisconsin. And it happens to be this year’s three winningest drivers – David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild and Donny Schatz.
Schatz leads the way with nine career Wisconsin wins. Five times the 10-time champion has come out on top at Cedar Lake, most recently claiming a 2016 visit. Only Sammy Swindell and Brad Sweet’s seven Cedar Lake wins are ahead of Schatz.
Six of Haudenschild’s 41 career victories have come within Wisconsin’s borders – tied with Missouri as the state he’s won in most often. A majority of those triumphs (five) have come courtesy of Beaver Dam Raceway, but he’s made one visit to Cedar Lake Victory Lane in 2019. The Wooster, Ohio native also hasn’t missed the top 10 in his last 13 Cedar Lake visits.
The majority of Gravel’s Wisconsin winning has been done at Wilmot Raceway, where’s he come out on top four times. Last year, Gravel finally broke through for what had been an elusive Cedar Lake checkered flag. Before the win, the current point leader had posted seven runner-up finishes at the 3/8 mile. Gravel’s 2024 win tally already sits at nine as he continues to chase his first championship.
HOME STAND
There’s likely no driver more welcoming of the Wisconsin swing than Bill Balog. He’s originally from Alaska but has worn the cheese head for the last several years and will get to work out of his own shop during the upcoming stretch.
The “North Pole Nightmare’s” career is full of success at the trio of tracks on the agenda. It all starts with Cedar Lake this weekend where he’s bagged five Interstate Racing Association victories. He’s also been in the top 10 with the World of Outlaws on seven occasions at Cedar Lake with a best of sixth in 2013. Last year, Balog grabbed his first career Simpson Quick Time with The Greatest Show on Dirt courtesy of Cedar Lake.
After a strong stretch to close out May that included five top 10s in six races highlighted by an Attica podium, Balog’s rookie campaign has hit a slump with one top 10 in the last five. A multi-week stretch at familiar tracks offers up an excellent opportunity to build some momentum.
BROCK’S BREAKTHROUGH
Two years ago, Cedar Lake became the sight of a popular World of Outlaws winner.
Jonestown, Pa.’s Brock Zearfoss broke through for his first series victory as a full-time competitor. He had already won with The Greatest Show on Dirt in 2017 at Williams Grove Speedway, but the Cedar Lake triumph featured another special layer. It was his first with his family-owned team that he took on the road with the World of Outlaws. It was validation. It was proof he belonged.
Zearfoss heads back to Cedar Lake in the middle of his fourth campaign with the nation’s best sprint car drivers. He’s collected eight top 10s so far in 2024 and ready to see if Cedar Lake brings another magical moment.
FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME
Zearfoss isn’t the only competitor to experience an important first at Cedar Lake. The track is also home to Logan Schuchart’s first ever World of Outlaws victory.
Eight years ago, Schuchart snagged his first career win in his 198th Feature start. Like Zearfoss, the night supplied a measure of reassurance. After making the bold jump to the grind of the World of Outlaws in 2014, Schuchart took Shark Racing to victory lane. Since then, he’s added another 40, currently good enough for 19th all-time.
Schuchart could use the boost of another Cedar Lake triumph this weekend. He’s winless through 30 events in 2024 and recently got hit with heartbreak at Knoxville, crashing while battling for the lead. The Hanover, Pa. native is yet to return to Cedar Lake Victory Lane, but he’s been in the top five in three of his last five attempts including a runner-up last year.
BOUNCING BACK
The most recent points races didn’t go according to plan for Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing. The potent pairing wound up with finishes of 21st and 16th at Knoxville two weeks ago, ending a remarkable 17-race top five streak. The weekend knocked them from second in points and only 10 markers behind the top spot to third and 76 points back of the lead.
Macedo did rebound with a fourth-place run during the one completed night of BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards week, but the event offered only show-up points.
Cedar Lake serves up the opportunity for Macedo and the JJR crew to get back on the right track as they chase a title. The Californian is yet to win at the Wisconsin facility, but he’s been banging on the door. Four of his 11 Cedar Lake attempts have resulted in podiums including a pair of runner-ups. He’s also started on the pole three times and led laps in four features.