Additional $25,000-to-win events include the World of Outlaws Bristol Throwdown, which occurred in late April at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, as well as the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup XXX on July 20 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.
While it doesn’t occur in the summer, the Champion Racing Oil National Open at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., offers $75,000 to win on Oct. 2.
“It’s definitely exciting times in sprint car racing and for a driver with a great race team there’s a lot of money to be made,” two-time defending World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet said. “The point fund is great and winning championships is great, but you can win a lot more money by racing great. You can win the Knoxville Nationals, two Kings Royals, the Jackson Nationals and make more money than by winning the points fund. There are more and more big events getting built. That Huset’s race is going to be big. Skagit is offering more money.
“It’s very well appreciated from a driver’s standpoint. It’s also a business and they wouldn’t be doing it if it wasn’t good for them, too. Hopefully, these tracks can keep being successful hosting the World of Outlaws,” Sweet continued. “I think that’s the brand you want to have at your track if you want to sell tickets. I think that’s proven time and time again. We’re all a big team and we’re happy if the promoters are happy. Hopefully, we’ll keep building the purses. We’ll see where the pay-per-view side will add to even more of that.”
In addition to the crown jewel events returning and new marquee shows being created, the World of Outlaws increased its single-day and two-day event purses and the point fund. Each race provides a minimum of $10,000 to win with the single-day purses paying more than $55,800 and $1,000 to start.
Two-day purses offer more than $108,000 with $900 to start the opening night and $1,000 to start the finale. The points fund is now more than $730,000, featuring $150,000 that is split between the champion car owner and driver.
“It’s a little overdue,” Sweet said. “It’s one of those things where the pay-per-view side is what has opened that can of worms. The crowds are getting bigger and there’s another side of it from the fans that we don’t get to tap into from the monetary side as far as teams. But I have to give the World of Outlaws credit for building DIRTVision and making that investment. Now we’re starting to see the pay increases and purse increases. That will directly impact my family and every person who signs up to be a platinum (contract) driver. We all get to make a little more.”
The World of Outlaws isn’t the only series with significant money on the line as the weather heats up. The FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions features a trio of races that pay at least $26,000 to win.
The month of May saw Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Ind., host the $26,000-to-win Rayce Rudeen Classic and Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway welcomed the All Stars for the $29,000-to-win Bob Weikert Memorial. Port Royal Speedway also showcases the 54th annual Tuscarora 50 on Sept. 11 when the winner will receive $54,000.
The money is certainly up for grabs this season as teams and tracks are looking to make up for the lost time from last year. For Gravel, who is in his first year of piloting Quiring’s Big Game Motorsports No. 2 sprint car, momentum is important entering the summer.
“You want to get rolling when we’re racing the most and the most money is on the line,” said Gravel, who swept the World of Outlaws Bristol Throwdown in April. “That’s the most important chunk of the season. It’s compacted with so many races and a lot of money to get. For us as a team we’re trying to build for the future. We’re working together and hoping to hit our stride at the right time.”
It’s no different for veteran partnerships like Sweet and his Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb team.
“This is one of the most lucrative summers in sprint car history,” he said. “We are big money racers. We want the crown jewels.”
Thanks to the tracks, promoters and series stepping up, not only are the crown jewels back this year, the list of marquee events continues to grow. And for the nomads of the night who entertain from track to track and community to community across the country, more green is always a welcome sight.