Column: Doubleheader Weekend Will Play Role In WoO Sprint Series’ Tight Points Battle

Column By: NICK GRAZIANO / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – BRANDON, SD – Four years went by without the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at the historic Huset’s Speedway. That changes this weekend.

The Greatest Show on Dirt returns to the high-banked 1/3-mile track on Saturday, Sept. 5 for a $10,000-to-win show and on Sunday, Sept. 6 for a $20,000-to-win show.

The doubleheader weekend will see the continuation of the Series’ epic points battle with Brad Sweet and Logan Schuchart currently tied for the points lead and five drivers – and six teams – still in contention for the titles.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all of the action live on DIRTVision.

Here are the top storylines for the weekend:

BACK ON THE HUNT: Reigning champion Brad Sweet, of Grass Valley, CA, didn’t let two months of bad luck and missed wins derail his quest for a second World of Outlaws title. He came out swinging last weekend with a runner-up finish at U.S. 36 Raceway and a win at I-80 Speedway – his eighth of the season. He’s now tied for the championship points lead with Logan Schuchart.

He’ll look to keep his winning ways going this weekend at Huset’s Speedway, where he has one win in 2016.

CONSISTENCY KEY: Logan Schuchart, of Hanover, PA, has been able to keep himself in the championship hunt through consistency – currently on a run of 17 top-10 finishes in a row. However, that’s not enough. He’s hungry to find victory again. His last win came at the Terre Haute Action Track in mid-July.

His last two finishes at Huset’s Speedway in 2016 were 22nd and 16th, respectively. Schuchart has proven this year that his previous records pay no homage to how he can perform. He and his Shark Racing team have improved their performance at about every track they’ve gone to this year.

HAUD IN HIS RHYTHM: After a few weeks of finishing in and out of the top-10, Sheldon Haudenschild, of Wooster, OH, and his Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing team have found their rhythm again. They recently knocked off three top-five finishes in a row – including their recent win at U.S. 36 Raceway in their first trip their together.

Haudenschild and his team will make another first time start with the World of Outlaws at Huset’s Speedway this weekend. The high-banked 1/3-mile track should suit Haudenschild’s style of making the most speed by ripping the top. He already earned a win at the high-banked 1/3-mile Federated Auto Parts Raceway in August.

MACEDO EAGER TO WIN: Carson Macedo, of Lemoore, CA, has put together an impressive sophomore season, so far. He currently sits fourth in points with one win and is tied with Brad Sweet for the second most top-10 finishes this season with 31. However, he wants to park his Kyle Larson Racing #2 car in Victory Lane again before the year ends.

He had one of his most competitive performances since his last win in June at I-80 Speedway with a second-place finish. He’ll look to carry that momentum into the weekend at Huset’s Speedway. And like Haudenschild, he’ll be making his first start at the track this weekend.

STAYING IN THE FIGHT: David Gravel, of Watertown, CT, is on the best hot streak of all drivers, so far, with 20 top-10 finishes in a row – 14 of them top-five finishes and three of them wins. That performance has helped keep Jason Johnson Racing in the mix for the team championship title – currently six points behind Kasey Kahne Racing and Shark Racing, who are tied for the lead.

He’s yet to win at Huset’s Speedway, but has three top-five finishes in his last three races at the track.

SCHATZ SEARCHING: Ten-time Series champion Donny Schatz, of Fargo, ND, and his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing team continue to search for the speed that propelled them to multiple wins and championships. Schatz continues to find himself in and out of the top-five but has yet to contend for a win since his last victory at Lernerville Speedway in July.

This weekend could see him park the Diehard #15 back in Victory Lane at Huset’s Speedway. He has four wins at the 1/3-mile track, including during the last race there in 2016. This weekend is also a home state weekend for his crew chief Steve Swenson.

ALLEN CLOSING IN ON WIN: Jacob Allen, of Hanover, PA, continues to inch closer and closer to his first career World of Outlaws win. He came close once again at I-80, leading the first 12 laps, holding off attacks from Brad Sweet and Carson Macedo to do so. He eventually fell to sixth but gained more confidence that his day in Victory Lane is near.

He finished 9th during his last race at Huset’s Speedway in 2016 and had another near win moment at the high-banked 1/3-mile Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in August, too.