CONCORD, N.C. — Carson Macedo did what he had to do Friday night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte but it wasn’t enough to keep David Gravel from securing his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series championship.
Macedo drove the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 to his 12th series victory of the season on the third night of the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte to earn $15,000, but Gravel finished fourth to claim the title with one race remaining in the season.
Macedo started on the pole and led the first 15 laps of the four-tenths-mile track, but Buddy Kofoid blasted into the lead on lap 16.
Macedo didn’t quit, though and got back around Kofoid on lap 20. From there he set sail en route to victory.
“I was the leader I didn’t know where to be. My pace was getting slow. It felt like I was on ice skates it was so dirt,” Macedo said. “I felt Buddy behind me there and he slid me. Once I saw him, I started moving around a little bit. When you get passed for the lead and you put together an effort to get the lead back it is a testament to how good your car is.”
It was Macedo’s first win at the Dirt Track.
“It takes time to learn to win here,” Macedo said. “It is a chess game because you have to move around so much. It feels good to win the battle, and it’s a little bit bittersweet to lose the championship but congratulations to David and that 2 team.”
Meanwhile, Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports team celebrated a banner season and the first championship for Gravel and team owner Tod Quiring.
“It feels good to go into tomorrow and just race for a win,” Gravel said. “I want to touch that trophy and raise it above my head. I’ve been close a lot of times and to do it with Levi and being a dad and having a family means a lot. There is a long list of Outlaw champions and I am proud to be one of them.”
Kofoid finished second in the Roth Motorsports No. 83.
“I moved up into one and got over the cushion and that let Carson back by,” said Kofoid. “It kind of sucks to let it get away like that. He didn’t really get away from us.”
Justin Peck finished on the podium for the second consecutive night in his first weekend driving the Rudeen Racing No. 26.
“Two nights in a row, we were free to start the feature, then the car comes in,” Peck said. “The car is really good. I’ve been comfortable every time I’ve sat in this thing.”
The finish:
Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid, Justin Peck, David Gravel, Kasey Kahne, Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, Giovanni Scelzi, Daison Pursley, Kyle Reinhardt, Garet Williamson, Jacob Allen, Brian Brown, Bill Balog, Donny Schatz, Logan Schuchart, Ryan Timms, Brock Zearfoss, Cory Eliason, Emerson Exsom, Justin Whittall, Danny Sams III, Landon Crawley, Darin Naida, Skylar Gee.