WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — One of the country’s most exciting bullrings is ready to welcome back The Greatest Show on Dirt.
Marc Cohn might’ve been “Walking in Memphis,” but the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are trucking to West Memphis, AR to invade Riverside International Speedway for the first time since 2018. The country’s best Sprint Car drivers are prepared to battle for two nights (Oct. 25-26) on the quarter-mile dirt track, west of the Mississippi River.
This weekend’s Bull Ring Blitz is the year’s penultimate event with #AllDirtRoads leading the tour to The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the World of Outlaws World Finals in two weeks (Nov. 6-9).
Spots in the standings are still up for grabs with an increase in the higher you climb. The stage is set for two can’t-miss nights of Sprint Car racing at “The Ditch.”
HOME AT LAST
Much of the 2024 season has been about venturing to unfamiliar tracks for World of Outlaws rookie Landon Crawley. But this weekend he’ll be the one with the experience advantage.
The 16-year-old is a native of Benton, Ark., roughly two hours west of Riverside. It’s the first track where he made a lap in a Micro Sprint back in 2017. It’s where he’s turned plenty of laps in a Sprint Car. And now it’s where he’ll get to race in front of home state fans as a full-time World of Outlaws driver.
Crawley has competed several times at Riverside over the past few years with the United Sprint Car Series (USCS). He’s been on the podium four times including a pair of runner-ups. He also won the Greg Hodnett Memorial at Riverside last year.
This weekend will also serve as a home game for Crawley’s car owner Jason Sides who hails from right across the Mississippi River in Bartlett, TN. Sides finished sixth with The Greatest Show on Dirt 15 years ago at Riverside.
MAKING THE BOSS HAPPY
Jason Sides isn’t the only World of Outlaws car owner with ties to the area.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., co-owner of the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17, calls Olive Branch, MS home. Just like Sides, it’s a quick trip across the river to reach the current NASCAR Cup Series star’s hometown. Stenhouse Jr. beat the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) at his home track back in 2004 when he was rising through the ranks. He also finished a career-best fourth with the World of Outlaws there in 2009.
Haudenschild has plenty of motivation to visit Victory Lane this weekend at Riverside. There’s the bossman’s connection, and there’s the fact that he and the team are still chasing their 10-win goal for the year. Currently, they’re two short of what would mark a career high for “Haud.” The Wooster, OH driver has finished second in two of the last four races this season.
The lone visit to Riverside for Haudenschild saw him start on the pole of the feature and lead a lap before tipping over late.
ONE RIVERSIDE WINNER
Only one competitor on the 2024 World of Outlaws roster owns a series victory at Riverside, and to no surprise his name his Donny Schatz.
Schatz celebrated Fourth of July weekend with a July 5 win at “The Ditch” in 2008. The 10-time champion led all 40 laps of the main event. It’s by far Schatz’s top performance in West Memphis through four tries with an eighth in 2018 being his next best.
The Fargo, N.D. driver enters the weekend on a mini-hot streak. He’s finished no worse than sixth in the last three races highlighted by a Lincoln Speedway victory, his fifth of the season. Schatz sits third in points looking at potentially a 17th year of finishing within the top three.
ROTH RÉSUMÉ
Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Roth Motorsports have only been teamed for a little more than a year, but Kofoid is already establishing himself as one of the top drivers in team history. A rookie season for the records books has largely contributed to this effort.
The Penngrove, Calif. native is up to seven wins and 25 podiums in 2024, numbers that a veteran would be proud of let alone a rookie. Thirteen of those top three finishes have come in the last 16 races as Kofoid and Dennis and Teresa Roth’s team ride an unforgettable run.
Kofoid’s seven victories this year is already the fourth winningest World of Outlaws season in Roth’s history, trailing Danny Lasoski’s totals of 16 and 12 in 1999 and 2000 and Tim Kaeding’s nine in 2013. Kofoid is also tied as the team’s third winningest driver behind Lasoski (41 wins) and Kaeding (19 wins) and equaled with James McFadden with eight overall victories.
Kofoid will make his Riverside debut this weekend, but Roth has won at Riverside in the past with Kaeding in 2009.
“WALKING IN (WEST) MEMPHIS”
While most local Sprint Car racing at Riverside is done with a 360 under the hood, a collection of the track’s talent can drop a 410 between the frame rails and compete with the best in the country.
The local that most stands out to deliver a strong performance on the big stage is Marion, Ark.’s Derek Hagar. His trophy room is full of hardware from “The Ditch.” Hagar added two more this past weekend by sweeping the World Short Track Challenge with ASCS, bringing his 2024 Riverside win total to six.
Memphis, TN’s Howard Moore is another potent shoe anytime Sprint Cars battle at Riverside. He’s beat the USCS several times over the past handful of years including this season in June. Moore also owns multiple ASCS regional wins in West Memphis.
Brian Bell calls Arlington, Tenn., a little northeast of Memphis, home and is a frequent Riverside competitor. He’s got this weekend circled on his calendar and is prepared to battle the nation’s toughest competition at his home track.
This trio is expected to be joined by more locals along with a healthy cast of invaders from all over.