OUTLAWS FACE BUSY MAY SCHEDULE

The famed “Month of May” features a loaded 10-race slate for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprintcar Series – and it all wraps up with a blockbuster Memorial Day weekend.

For the first time in 13 years, The Greatest Show on Dirt will return to Waverly, Ohio’s Atomic Speedway on Saturday, May 28. Formerly known as K-C Raceway, the high-banked 3/8-mile produced a plethora of exciting moments throughout the 2000s including Donny Schatz excellence and Terry McCarl’s iconic “wave” on ESPN.

Keeping with tradition, Indiana’s Lawrenceburg Speedway will again host the Memorial Day Spectacular on Monday, May 30. Reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson has won the last two battles at The ‘Burg with his brother-in-law, Brad Sweet, the three-time and defending World of Outlaws Champion scoring before him.

Although Atomic has been absent from the World of Outlaws schedule since 2009, the track has remained a staple in Sprintcar racing with several All Star Circuit of Champions and FAST on Dirt Series events over the years.

When it comes to the Outlaws at Atomic, though, it’s all about Donny Schatz.The Series held seven races throughout the 2000s and the Fargo, North Dakota native topped four of them.

In his last five appearances at the track, he ran 1st-1st-2nd-1st-1st for an astounding average finish of 1.2. As of now, the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15 is sitting sixth in the points and eyeing a second win of 2022.

The only other full-timers with World of Outlaws laps at Atomic are Kraig Kinser and Jason Sides, both of whom have finished top-five at the track before.

Several younger stars gained their Atomic expertise through All Stars or FAST action, though. Australian James McFadden, pilot of the Roth Motorsports #83, topped a pair of All Stars events at the track in 2019. The leading Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year contender Spencer Bayston won the 2018 Dean Knittel Memorial at Atomic.

Sheldon Haudenschild scored an All Stars victory at the track in 2016 before becoming a full-time Outlaw in the NOS Energy Drink, Stenhouse Junior/Marshall Racing #17. Rico Abreu, who has built a schedule with 60+ Series shows in 2022, is another former Atomic ace with a 2017 All Stars win.

When it comes to Lawrenceburg, each of the last three May Sprintcar specials at the track have been won by Elk Grove, CA’s Kyle Larson.

He topped 2019 and 2021 World of Outlaws shows at the 3/8-mile and sandwiched in a 2020 score aboard Paul Silva’s #57 at a FAST race. The reigning Knoxville Nationals and Kings Royal Champion has made a habit of excelling at midweek shows and could appear to make it four-in-a-row.

Brad Sweet, who leads the current championship standings aboard the Kasey Kahne Racing, NAPA Auto Parts #49, earned one of his 75 career World of Outlaws wins at The ‘Burg in 2018. Like Atomic, however, the 10-time Series Champion Donny Schatz owns the most wins at Lawrenceburg with three scores coming in 2014, 2013, and 2009.

Bloomington, Indiana’s Kraig Kinser won at Lawrenceburg in 2005 and he’s one of three Hoosier State drivers headlining the final Series appearance of 2022 in his home state. Fellow full-timers Spencer Bayston of Lebanon, Indiana, and Bill Rose of Plainfield, Indiana, round out the trio of Indiana stars on tour.

Bayston, along with the likes of Rico Abreu and Brad Sweet, has previous winning experience at the Lawrenceburg, Indiana oval in the form of USAC National Midget racing. Other stars to watch include four-time winner this season Carson Macedo, Series victor David Gravel and Shark Racing’s duo of Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen..

ATOMIC SPEEDWAY WINNERS (7 races):

4 wins – Donny Schatz.

1 win – Daryn Pittman, Jason Meyers, Terry McCarl.

LAWRENCEBURG SPEEDWAY WINNERS (17 races):

3 wins – Donny Schatz.

2 wins – Kyle Larson, Paul McMahan, Shane Stewart.

1 win – Brad Sweet, Chad Kemenah, Danny Smith, Jac Haudenschild, Joey Saldana, Kraig Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Steve Kinser.