PA’S PORT ROYAL POSSE vs OUTLAWS

For the final time this year, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprintcar Series will square off against the Pennsylvania Posse, but this time at a new facility.

Six races at Williams Grove and a weekday show at Lincoln preceded the Nittany Showdown, but now the 1/2-mile at Port Royal Speedway stands in the spotlight with a doubleheader this weekend.

The likes of Sweet, Schatz, Gravel, Macedo, Schuchart and Haudenschild represent the Outlaws while the Posse bring in aces such as Dewease, Dietrich, Marks, Wagner, Macri & Rahmer.

A $15,000-to-win main event caps the weekend on Saturday night with Every Lap LIVE on DIRTvision.

Here are some of the top story lines to follow:

RULING THE PALACE:When you think of Port Royal Speedway in 2021, you think of Logan Wagner and Lance Dewease; two men who want to and could likely dethrone the Outlaws this weekend.

Wagner, of Harrisonville, PA, is fresh off the biggest win of his life at September’s Tuscarora 50 against the All Star Circuit of Champions. He banked more than $56,000 at the event and also clinched his fourth consecutive track championship, tying a record set by Keith Kauffman 40 years ago. The Zemco #1Z pilot won three total races at the track this year but has two more opportunities left to beat The Greatest Show on Dirt this weekend.

Dewease, of Fayetteville, PA, is always commended for his dominance at Williams Grove as the all-time most successful driver, but his records at Port Royal are equally impressive. The Kreitz #69K driver won four races at the 1/2-mile this year, bringing him to 119 career victories and leaving him 10 short of the all-time record by Kauffman at 129 wins.

The 55-year-old legend won twice at the speedway in the World of Outlaws Gumout Series in the early 2000’s, but still chases his first at the track against the NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.

MONEY MAN: Within the last month, Carson Macedo has undoubtedly experienced the greatest stretch of his career. The Lemoore, CA 25-year-old has won thrice over 30 days with the World of Outlaws, and they all three mark the highest paydays of his life.

He won the Skagit Nationals for $25,000 on September 5, then won the Tom Tarlton Classic for $21,000 on September 18, and last weekend scored a massive $75,000 pay cheque at the National Open on October 2.

The Jason Johnson Racing driver, who owns 10 wins this season and still battles for second in the championship, has a chance to become the leading money earner this weekend with winnings of $10,000 on Friday and $15,000 on Saturday available.

CHAMPIONSHIP DRAMA: Williams Grove’s National Open had all the potential to create some chaos in the championship chase last weekend and the Posse’s home porch lived up to that potential. Just when it looked as if David Gravel was set to take another huge chunk out of Brad Sweet’s advantage, the night and season drastically changed.

After cutting down 36 points last weekend, Gravel was expected to eat away more on Friday night when Sweet was forced to take his first provisional of the year. However, while running inside the top-10, a power steering issue slowed the Big Game #2 and handed Gravel a 25th-place DNF while Sweet advanced to 15th and padded more points.

Only seven races remain – Port Royal (10/8-9), Lakeside (10/22), Lawton (10/29), Devil’s Bowl (10/30), Charlotte (11/5-6) – and Sweet now holds a 128-point lead. Realistically, his third consecutive championship is nearly a lock, but anything can happen and mathematically it’s not over yet.

POSSE AT PORT: We’ve been to Lincoln and Williams Grove, now we’re checking off one more Central Pennsylvania battle with the PA Posse this weekend at Port Royal Speedway. However, the Posse hasn’t won an Outlaws race at The Speed Palace since 2014 when Kunkletown’s Ryan Smith scored a popular first-career win. Interestingly enough, though, they’ve had six different drivers run second over the last six races; a streak they want to break this weekend.

2016 – Spring Grove’s Greg Hodnett 2nd to Schuchart
2017 – Fayetteville’s Lance Dewease 2nd to Schatz
2018 – Salfordville’s Freddie Rahmer 2nd to Schatz
2019 – Dillsburg’s Anthony Macri 2nd to Schatz
2020 – Gettysburg’s Danny Dietrich 2nd to Larson
2020 – Myerstown’s Brent Marks 2nd to Larson

POINTS BATTLE: Beyond the title fight, other positions in the championship standings are worth following as drivers battle for the lucrative points fund. Last weekend, Logan Schuchart (-292) used a pair of second-place finishes to overtake Sheldon Haudenschild (-320) for the fifth spot in points, which pays a record-setting $50,000 at season end.

In front of them, Carson Macedo (-142) used his National Open title to catch Gravel (-128) in a battle for the runner-up position. The difference from second to third in points includes a massive swing of $100,000 for second and $60,000 for third. It would be a career-best finish for both in the World of Outlaws standings.

THE THREE Ss: Sweet, Schuchart. Schatz. They were 1-2-3 in the championship last year, and they are the only three full-timers with a World of Outlaws win at Port Royal.

Sweet conquered The Speed Palace in 2015 in a Kasey Kahne Racing 1-2 finish over then-team mate Daryn Pittman. It was the first win in Central Pennsylvania for the Grass Valley, CA native.

Schuchart, who hails from less than two hours away in Hanover, won the 2016 show for his second-career World of Outlaws win. This weekend is his final chance of 2021 to match his grandfather Bobby Allen at 30 career wins while still in their home state of Pennsylvania.

Schatz has won more Outlaw shows at Port Royal than anyone else with four wins to his credit. The 10-time Series champion won in 2004 aboard his own Schatz #15 and then earned a three-peat with Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanain Racing from 2017-19.

THE JONESTOWN JET: His first-career World of Outlaws win came at Williams Grove, but Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year contender is most closely associated with Port Royal Speedway. Growing up an hour away from the Juniata County 1/2-mile, Zearfoss owns seven 410 wins at the track and won the 2017 track championship. That same year, he nearly got his second-career Outlaws victory at Port Royal.

He led 17 laps in a fierce battle with Schatz before ultimately running out of fuel with two-to-go while running second. Last year, he finished fifth and seventh at the 1/2-mile in World of Outlaws action. This weekend, he gets another chance at arguably his best track in pursuit of his first World of Outlaws top-five of the 2o21 season.

This Week at a Glance – When and Where

Friday-Saturday, October 8-9 at Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, PA

Around the Turn: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprintcar Series will enjoy a rare off-weekend after the trip to Port Royal with no racing planned for October 15-16. After that, the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown takes over Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS on Friday, October 22.

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (14 Drivers):

16 wins – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne Racing w/ Mike Curb #49
10 wins – David Gravel, Big Game Motorsports #2
10 wins – Carson Macedo, Jason Johnson Racing #41
8 wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Stenhouse Jr. Marshall Racing #17
6 wins – Logan Schuchart, Shark Racing #1S
4 wins – Kyle Larson, Silva Motorsports #57
4 wins – Aaron Reutzel, Roth Motorsports #83
3 wins – Donny Schatz, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15
2 wins – James McFadden, Kasey Kahne Racing w/ Mike Curb #9
2 wins – Kerry Madsen, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #14
2 wins – Brent Marks, Brent Marks Racing #19
1 win – Dave Blaney, Dave Blaney #10
1 win – Spencer Bayston, Sam McGhee Motorsports #11
1 win – Tyler Courtney, Clauson-Marshall Racing #7BC

PODIUM FINISHES (28 Drivers):
34 Podiums – Brad Sweet
24 Podiums – Carson Macedo
23 Podiums – David Gravel
22 Podiums – Donny Schatz
21 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
18 Podiums – Logan Schuchart
12 Podiums – James McFadden
10 Podiums – Aaron Reutzel
6 Podiums – Kerry Madsen, Brent Marks
5 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi
4 Podiums – Kyle Larson
3 Podiums – Brian Brown, Lance Dewease
2 Podiums – Kraig Kinser, Cory Eliason, Anthony Macri, Danny Dietrich, Tyler Courtney
1 Podium – Jacob Allen, Justin Peck, Brian Brown, Anthony Macri, Dave Blaney, Spencer Bayston, Daryn Pittman, Paulie Colagiovanni, Austin McCarl, Colby Copeland, Sam Hafertepe Jr.

2021 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Schedule & Winners

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Fri, Feb. 5 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brad Sweet (1)
2. Sun, Feb. 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Logan Schuchart (1)
3. Fri, March 5 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Carson Macedo (1)
4. Sat, March 6 / East Bay Raceway Park / Tampa, FL / Aaron Reutzel (1)
5. Fri, March 12 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
6. Sat, March 13 / The Rev / Monroe, LA / David Gravel (1)
7. Fri, March 19 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
8. Sat, March 20 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Brad Sweet (2)
9. Sat, March 27 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, MO / Brad Sweet (3)
10. Fri, April 2 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Brad Sweet (4)
11. Sat, April 3 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Brad Sweet (5)
12. Fri, April 9 / Kokomo Speedway / Kokomo, IN / James McFadden (1)
13. Sat, April 10 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Carson Macedo (2)
14. Fri, April 22 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / David Gravel (2)
15. Sun, April 24 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / David Gravel (3)
16. Thur, April 29 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / Brad Sweet (6)
17. Fri, April 30 / I-70 Motorsports Park / Odessa, MO / Brad Sweet (7)
18. Sat, May 1 / I-70 Motorsports Park / Odessa, MO / Brad Sweet (8)
19. Sat, May 8 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Brent Marks (1)
20. Sat, May 8 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
21. Wed, May 12 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Brad Sweet (9)
22. Fri, May 14 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Carson Macedo (3)
23. Sat, May 15 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Aaron Reutzel (2)
24. Tues, May 18 / Bridgeport Speedway / Swedesboro, NJ / Logan Schuchart (2)
25. Fri, May 21 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / David Gravel (4)
26. Sat, May 22 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / Dave Blaney (1)
27. Mon, May 31 / Lawrenceburg Speedway / Lawrenceburg, IN / Kyle Larson (1)
28. Sat, June 5 / Granite City Speedway /Sauk Rapids, MN / David Gravel (5)
29. Fri, June 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Carson Macedo (4)
30. Sat, June 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Carson Macedo (5)
31. Thur, June 17 / 34 Raceway / West Burlington, IA / Brad Sweet (10)
32. Fri, June 18 / Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway / Dubuque, IA / Donny Schatz (1)
33. Sat, June 19 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
34. Mon, June 21 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / David Gravel (6)
35. Tues, June 22 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Aaron Reutzel (3)
36. Thur, June 24 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Kerry Madsen (1)
37. Fri, June 25 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Kerry Madsen (2)
38. Sat, June 27 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Logan Schuchart (3)
39. Fri, July 2 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Brad Sweet (11)
40. Sat, July 3 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Brad Sweet (12)
41. Sat, July 10 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Brad Sweet (13)
42. Tues, July 13 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Spencer Bayston (1)
43. Wed, July 14 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Carson Macedo (6)
44. Sat, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Tyler Courtney (1)
45. Sat, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Kyle Larson (2)
46. Sun, July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Carson Macedo (7)
47. Tues, July 20 / Lernerville Speedway / Sarver, PA / Brad Sweet (14)
48. Fri, July 23 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
49. Sat, July 24 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brent Marks (2)
50. Fri, July 30 / Ransomville Speedway / Ransomville, NY / Aaron Reutzel (4)
51. Sat, July 31 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (7)
52. Fri, August 6 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
53. Sat, August 7 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)
54. Wed, August 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (NP)
55. Thur, August 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brian Brown (NP)
56. Fri, August 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Rico Abreu (NP)
57. Sat, August 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (3)
58. Sat, August 21 / Red River Valley Speedway / Fargo, ND / Donny Schatz (2)
59. Sun, August 22 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / David Gravel (8)
60. Wed, August 25 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Brad Sweet (15)
61. Fri, August 27 / I-80 Speedway / Greenwood, NE / Donny Schatz (3)
62. Sun, August 29 / Black Hills Speedway / Rapid City, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (8)
63. Fri, September 3 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA / James McFadden (2)
64. Sat, September 4 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA / Brad Sweet (16)
65. Sun, September 5 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA / Carson Macedo (8)
66. Mon, September 6 / Grays Harbor Raceway / Elma, WA / Logan Schuchart (4)
67. Fri, September 10 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA / David Gravel (9)
68. Sat, September 11 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA / Logan Schuchart (5)
69. Sat, September 18 / Keller Auto Speedway / Hanford, CA / Carson Macedo (9)
70. Fri, September 24 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Logan Schuchart (6)
71. Sat, September 25 / Lernerville Speedway / Sarver, PA / David Gravel (10)
72. Fri, October 1 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Kyle Larson (4)
73. Sat, October 2 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Carson Macedo (10)