DODGE CITY, Kan. – Brad Sweet put a stop to Donny Schatz’s run of command at Dodge City Raceway Park by racing to victory in Saturday’s 30-lap World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Boot Hill Showdown finale.
The Grass Valley, Calif., native led from the pole at the outset and then survived a green-white-checkered run at the three-eighths-mile clay oval to pocket $12,000 for his 15th win of the year aboard the Kasey Kahne Racing NAPA/Curb Records No. 49 sprint car.
“The Big Cat” weathered windy conditions throughout the night to stop Schatz’ streak of Dodge City wins at three.
“The car was completely different at both ends of the track,” Sweet said of battling the wind. “Getting into one the car would really sit and dig in, then getting into three the wind would catch it and make it do crazy things.”
Sweet found running out front to be his advantage.
“The clean air certainly worked to our advantage,” Sweet commented.
After earning the pole position for the feature with a Dash win, Sweet outgunned Aussie Ian Madsen for the lead at the drop of the green and set the early pace ahead of Madsen.
Meanwhile, Schatz took advantage of traffic to slip by Sheldon Haudenschild for third on the ninth lap.
Sweet kept his pursuers at bay as he sliced through traffic, until a caution flew after 17 laps for Jake Bubak, who cut a right rear tire going into turn one.
The race resumed in similar fashion, with Sweet ultimately taking the white flag only to see the red lights flicker on moments later when Dominic Scelzi got upside down in turn four amid a multi-car battle in the latter half of the top 10.
Set for a green-white-checkered run to the stripe, Sweet set sail and raced on to his first Dodge City triumph, with Madsen and Schatz rounding out the podium.
After setting the night’s quickest time in qualifying for the second night in a row, David Gravel crossed the stripe fourth, with Haudenschild holding on for fifth after nearly looping it in turn two in the closing stages while running fourth.
Logan Schuchart worked his way from 10th to sixth, ahead of Shane Stewart, Carson Macedo, Brent Marks and Daryn Pittman.
After Gravel set a quick time of 12.706 seconds, heat race wins went to Gravel, Madsen and Stewart. Mason Daniel got upside down in turn two on the opening lap of the second heat race. Daniel walked away uninjured and returned for feature action.
While Sweet scored the World of Outlaws win, Bucklin’s Clay Sellard led all the way to win the accompanying 20-lap IMCA Modified feature event.
Sellard started from the pole position and withstood race-long pressure from Clay Money to snare his fifth Dodge City win of the year.
“This is my house; there was no way anyone was beating me on Outlaws night,” Sellard said.
Troy Gemmill, Cole Traugott and Dylan Sherfick rounded out the top five.
To view complete race results, advance to the next page.