JACKSON, Minn. – Though he didn’t win Thursday’s opener to the 43rd AGCO Jackson Nationals, Logan Schuchart’s body of work for the night did give him the early lead in the event point standings.
Schuchart, who qualified second, finished fifth in his heat race and ran second to winner Kerry Madsen in the 30-lap feature, holds a one-point advantage over David Gravel going into Friday’s program.
The driver of the Shark Racing-prepared, Drydene Performance Products-sponsored No. 1s sprint car earned 426 points to Gravel’s 425 points Thursday night.
Two-time defending World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion Brad Sweet ranks third with 424 points, with James McFadden one more point back in fourth place at 423 points.
Madsen sits fifth with 420 points, followed by Carson Macedo (416), Sheldon Haudenschild (411), Jacob Allen (407), Gio Scelzi (395) and Shane Golobic (392).
The top four in cumulative points from Thursday and Friday will lock in to the King of the Hill time-attack event Saturday that will set the first eight starting spots for the $50,000-to-win Jackson Nationals finale.
Joining the top four in event points will be the winners of Saturday’s four qualifier races.
Friday’s AGCO Jackson Nationals preliminary program is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET with hot laps.
43rd AGCO Jackson Nationals Thursday Event Standings
1. Logan Schuchart 426
2. David Gravel 425
3. Brad Sweet 424
4. James McFadden 423
5. Kerry Madsen 420
6. Cason Macedo 416
7. Sheldon Haudenschild 411
8. Jacob Allen 407
9. Gio Scelzi 395
10. Shane Golobic 392
11. Kraig Kinser 384
12. Donny Schatz 380
13. Tim Kaeding 380
14. Aaron Reutzel 376
15. Brian Brown 376
16. DJ Netto 375
17. Parker Price-Miller 374
18. Jason Sides 367
19. Brock Zearfoss 366
20. Justin Henderson 361
21. Cory Eliason 359
22. Ayrton Gennetten 357
23. Wayne Johnson 356
24. Spencer Bayston 342
25. Sawyer Phillips 329
26. Ian Madsen 324
27. Lachlan McHugh 320
28. Jack Dover 320
29. Paige Polyak 315
30. Lynton Jeffrey 302
31. Matt Juhl 299
32. Russel Borland 287
33. Tim Estenson 280
34. Kaleb Johnson 277
35. Kevin Ingle 266
36. Alan Gilbertson 265