ATTICA, Ohio — All eyes in the sprint car world are on Ohio this week.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is “Buckeye State” bound for a big week.
First up is a trip to Attica Raceway Park on Tuesday, July 14, to salute one of the sport’s greats. Brad Doty was one of the most promising drivers before a 1988 injury derailed his career, but the Apple Creek, Ohio, native remained committed to the sport he loves. He’s contributed through a variety of avenues since and continues to do so with the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by dac Vitamins and Minerals. The midweek battle will dish out $20,000 to the winner.
Then, the sport will converge on Rossburg’s Eldora Speedway for the 43rd running of the Kings Royal. The weekend begins with the $25,000-to-win Knight Before on Friday, July 17, before one of the sport’s crown jewels takes center stage as a stacked field of sprint car drivers will battle for the crown, $200,000 in riches, and a place in the history books on Saturday, July 18.
HAUD-EST TEAM
Sheldon Haudenschild is always a major story during this week in his home state, but even more eyes than usual are fixed on him this year.
He and KCP Racing are unquestionably the hottest team in sprint car racing as the Wooster, Ohio, native prepares to pursue two races near the top of his bucket list.
Haudenschild has won four of the last seven World of Outlaws races and has been on the podium in 10 of the last 12 with a 2.17 average finish over that dozen. The 32-year-old is arguably performing better than ever during his first season with KCP as he and longtime crew chief Kyle Ripper made the move over the offseason.
Like most sprint car drivers born in Ohio, there aren’t many events Haudenschild wants more than the Brad Doty Classic and Kings Royal. His father, Jac, won “The Doty” in 2007 and wore the crown at Eldora three times.
Sheldon was runner-up at the 2023 Brad Doty Classic. He’s got four top fives in the Kings Royal, including driving from eighth to second in 2020. His best chance at winning both may be this week with tons of momentum on his side.
CLASSIC HISTORY
The Brad Doty Classic has become one of the most coveted events in the sprint car hotbed in Ohio through nearly four decades of history, and several former winners plan to be in attendance on Tuesday at Attica.
It’s no surprise the driver who boasts the most victories is 10-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz with four. He topped a pair when the event was held at Limaland Motorsports Park (2011 and 2013) and two more after it shifted back to Attica (2016 and 2018). Schatz has also won at Attica three more times in World of Outlaws competition, making him the series’ winningest driver there.
Kyle Larson has the opportunity to equal Schatz’s Brad Doty Classic record this week in the Silva Motorsports No. 57. All three of “Yung Money’s” triumphs in the event occurred at Attica (2020, 2022, and 2023). Larson has five wins in 13 sprint car outings in 2026.
David Gravel aced Attica in 2017 with CJB Motorsports and in 2024 with Big Game Motorsports, and is one of six multi-time Brad Doty Classic victors. The Watertown, Conn., native goes for a third on Tuesday.
The first World of Outlaws win of Spencer Bayston’s career came at the 2021 Brad Doty Classic. That was behind the wheel of the Sam McGhee Motorsports No. 11, and he’ll aim for a second in the Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 this week.
Carson Macedo is the most recent to add his name to the list of winners as he and Jason Johnson Racing captured the Attica checkered flag last year. The Lemoore, Calif., native could join Larson as only the second driver to claim two in a row.
Greg Wilson won one for the locals back in 2004, and the Benton Ridge, Ohio, native plans to be in action on Tuesday.
CHASING ROYALTY
Donny Schatz has the opportunity to equal one of the sport’s greatest records this weekend at Eldora.
No driver sat atop the Kings Royal throne more than “The King” himself, Steve Kinser, with seven crowns. Schatz is a six-time victor, conquering the crown jewel in 2007, 2009, 2016-2018, and 2023. He’s been close to tying Kinser already with four second-place runs, most recently driving from 20th to runner-up in 2024.
Schatz’s Eldora speed over the years shows little reason to doubt him this weekend. He’s won 19 races at “The House that Earl Built.” Eighteen of those have come in World of Outlaws competition, which ranks behind only Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell for third all-time. In his last 22 races at Eldora, he’s been on the podium in half of them. Schatz goes for his record-tying seventh crown and first with CJB Motorsports this week.
CAST OF KINGS
Schatz is far from the only former King that’ll be aiming to claim the crown again. Six more champions are planning to be in the Eldora pit area.
King Kerry XXXI: Kerry Madsen finally sat atop the throne in 2014 after several close calls, driving the Keneric No. 29 from the fourth row to victory. The “Madman” could become the ninth different multi-time winner this week aboard the Vermeer Motorsports No. 55. The Australian owns six total Eldora scores, and they’ve all come with the World of Outlaws.
King Brad XXXVI: Brad Sweet has a pair of Kings Royal crowns in his trophy collection (2013 and 2019). Both of those came with Kasey Kahne Racing, and he’ll go for one in the Silva Motorsports No. 94 this time around. Sweet and Paul Silva have already won four times together in 2026, split between Silva’s own car and the Kevin Kozlowski-owned ride on the West Coast.
King Tyler XXXVIII: The first-ever World of Outlaws win of Tyler Courtney’s career came in the form of the 2021 Kings Royal when he put the Clauson Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 7BC in Victory Lane with a $175,000 score. “Sunshine” goes for a second worth $200,000 this week.
King Brent XXXIX: Brent Marks is one of three Pennsylvania-born Kings Royal champions. His came during a lucrative week in 2022 when the “Myerstown Missile” claimed both the Kings Royal and Historical Big One to become the first driver in sprint car racing history to bank a pair of six-figure paychecks in the same week. Marks is making the trip to Eldora for the 43rd running.
King David XLI: David Gravel matched Marks’ financial feat two years later when he bagged both the Joker’s Jackpot and Kings Royal to pocket $100,000 and $175,000 paydays. Gravel heads to Ohio atop the World of Outlaws points.
King Anthony XLII: An injury sidelined Anthony Macri earlier this year, but he hasn’t missed a beat since climbing back aboard the Macri Motorsports No. 39M. He won four times during PA Speedweek and claimed the mini-series title. Now, the Dillsburg, Pa., native aims to become only
