CONCORD, N.C. — David Gravel took a giant leap closer to his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series championship Thursday night during the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
Gravel started the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 outside the front row and led all 25 laps en route to a $15,000 triumph on the first of three consecutive nights of features at the four-tenths-mile track.
It was Gravel’s 16th victory of the season and 15th with the World of Outlaws. It was also his fifth win in the last 12 races at The Dirt Track, and his seventh overall here. As well, it was the 50th career victory for crew chief Cody Jacobs.
Buddy Kofoid, who started eighth, made a late charge at Gravel, got caught behind lapped cars and took the checkered flag in second.
“Sometimes it is not good to be leading there,” Gravel said. “The 7s (Landon Crawley) ran me really hard there. He saw my nose and trapped me going into three there. I didn’t really like that move.
“Then the started taking rubber there and I am sure Buddy was up there pounding the top there. My momentum and pace slowed down, but sometimes you will have that,” Gravel added. “Happy to hold on there. A 25-lap race, it all happens pretty fast there. You just pound the top there and then it is like a desert storm there with all the dust. The track gets real dirty there and your lines become more important.”
Gravel can clinch the championship by finishing 20th or better on Friday night after title rival Carson Macedo charged from 14th to sixth to keep the Jason Johnson Racing team alive in the title chase.
Kofoid’s runner-up effort was his 13th podium finish in the last 16 races.
“Starting on the outside is beneficial and I was able to get a good run and get past fifth and then get to the bottom,” Kofoid explained. “Right before the yellow, I went back to the time and I went up there at the right time and I moved up to third and then got to second and showed a nose. My car was really good in dirty air.”
Justin Peck, in his first night driving for Rudeen Racing, finished third.
“The car has been fast every time we hit the race track,” Peck said. “Getting used to the new car and understanding its tendencies. We seem to be getting a little faster and we had a really good hot rod there.”
Polesitter Brian Brown and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.
The finish:
David Gravel, Buddy Kofoid, Justin Peck, Brian Brown, Logan Schuchart, Carson Macedo, Ryan Timms, Sheldon Haudenschild, Anthony Macri, Tyler Courtney, Logan Wagner, Austin McCarl, Garet Williamson, Donny Schatz, Jacob Allen, Spencer Bayston, Giovanni Scelzi, Brock Zearfoss, Cory Eliason, Justin Whittall, Daison Pursley, Landon Crawley, Emerson Axson, Bill Balog, C.J. Leary.