BRANDON, S.D. — It might be time to start writing Michael “Buddy” Kofoid’s name on the check before a race even starts at Huset’s Speedway.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series rolled into the track on Monday for the Stars and Stripes Salute presented by Folkens Brothers Trucking finale. At first, Kofoid and his Roth Motorsports team actually looked beatable.
The Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying charts showed Kofoid timed in 23rd quickest. That left him lining up sixth for his heat with the odds against him of finding his way to the top two and into the Toyota Dash. But the No. 83 came to life in the heat as Kofoid ripped his way forward to second.
Misfortune bit in the redraw when Kofoid pulled the eight, the worst pill available. The Penngrove, Calif., native managed to advance one spot in the dash, setting him up seventh for the 35-lap, $20,000-to-win main event.
When the green flag waved, Kofoid reminded everyone he’s the man to beat at Huset’s The 24-year-old wheeled by some of the best sprint car drivers in the country with ease. By Lap 7, he’d worked his way onto the podium.
Six laps later, Kofoid slipped under Aaron Reutzel for the lead and that was that. He sliced through traffic without issue on his way to a nearly four-second margin of victory and honored Kyle Busch with a bow when he emerged from the car.
“My car is notoriously good in dirty air and relatively unaffected, and I knew I just wanted traffic to come into play,” Kofoid explained. “I didn’t want yellows. I wanted traffic and knew that I could race really well in that and hopefully take advantage and the opportunity arose. It was a long day, a hard day qualifying 23rd and then getting to second in the Heat Race then passing a car in the Dash. I feel like that set us up really nice in the Feature starting on the bottom. I just owe it all to Dylan (Buswell), Nate (Knotts), and Gage (Tyra). Collectively, we struggled in hot laps and qualifying, and they don’t give up.”
Kofoid’s sixth win of the year gives him sole possession of the most in 2026 with The Greatest Show on Dirt. It’s the 28th of his career with the World of Outlaws. His recent Huset’s hot streak continued as Monday marked his fifth win in the last seven visits. He hasn’t finished worse than fourth in his last eight races at Huset’s.
Sheldon Haudenschild took the runner-up spot in the KCP Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 18. He’s posted five top fives in the last seven races and sits tied with Donny Schatz for fourth in the standings.
Aaron Reutzel completed the podium in the Ridge and Sons Racing No. 87 after leading the opening 12 laps.
David Gravel and Donny Schatz rounded out the top five.
Trevor Tesch won the late model street stocks feature.
The finish:
Feature (35 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[7]; 2. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel[2]; 4. 2-David Gravel[8]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[1]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[4]; 7. 17-Spencer Bayston[10]; 8. 88-Austin McCarl[6]; 9. 23-Garet Williamson[11]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart[15]; 11. 41-Carson Macedo[23]; 12. 7S-Chris Windom[9]; 13. 27-Emerson Axsom[21]; 14. 2C-Cole Macedo[13]; 15. 11-Justin Henderson[5]; 16. 51-Ashton Torgerson[20]; 17. 83JR-Sam Henderson[19]; 18. 8-Jacob Hughes[17]; 19. 14H-Matt Juhl[22]; 20. (DNF) 13-Mark Dobmeier[12]; 21. (DNF) 24T-Christopher Thram[14]; 22. (DNF) 55-Kerry Madsen[18]; 23. (DNF) 28M-Conner Morrell[24]; 24. (DNF) 10-Ryan Timms[16]
