ROSSBURG, Ohio — Eldora Speedway has been a staple of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car tour since its debut in 1978, and that trend will continue this weekend.
“The Big E” will elevate its status as the most visited track in World of Outlaws history when The Greatest Show on Dirtreturns for #LetsRaceTwo Friday-Saturday, May 5-6. Eldora’s 230 races stand atop the list of tracks that the World of Outlaws have invaded, and that number will grow to 232 as Eldora continues to cement its significance in Sprint Car Racing history.
Fans will see the top Winged Warriors and Non-Wing Warriors battling both nights as well with the United States Auto Club (USAC) Non-Wing Sprint Cars accompanying the World of Outlaws for the weekend.
Let’s look at some of the weekend’s top storylines:
CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE
The trio atop the World of Outlaws standings – Carson Macedo, Brad Sweet, and David Gravel – will carry their tight battle into Eldora, where they’ve all found success.
Macedo leads the charge with six consecutive top fives entering the weekend aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41. Eldora has been especially kind to Macedo in recent years. In his last 10 visits, the Lemoore, CA native has posted five podiums, a 4.4 average finish, and a pair of victories.
Sweet and his Kasey Kahne Racing crew trail Macedo by only 12 markers. “The Big Cat” has visited Eldora Victory Lane on three occasions with the World of Outlaws, including two Kings Royals (’13 & ’19). While his recent results aren’t quite on par with Macedo, Sweet still has managed a trio of top fives in his last four starts at the Rossburg, Ohio oval.
A DNF this past Saturday put Gravel 48 points out of the lead, but Eldora is a prime facility for the Big Game Motorsports driver to make up ground. Four of Gravel’s 80 career Series victories have occurred at “The House that Earl Built” including two last July. The Watertown, Conn. native also topped the All-Star Circuit of Champions’ Governor’s Reign for a $52,000 payday in 2020.
LACK OF BACK TO BACK
Eldora has given fans a variety of winners over the last few years. In the track’s last 16 races, no driver has won consecutive trophies, even though four competitors have claimed more than one main event during that stretch.
The man who will have the chance to break the trend this Friday is St. Helena, Calif.’s Rico Abreu. The 31-year-old topped last September’s BeFour the Crowns Showdown to collect his 10th career series victory. Abreu has already won twice this season (Lincoln Speedway & 81 Speedway), and one more tally in the win column would be his personal best for one season with The Greatest Show on Dirt.
ELDORA EXCELLENCE
It’s fitting that the most recent driver to go back-to-back at Eldora is the one who has dominated the ‘The Big E” over stints of his career – Donny Schatz.
The 10-time series champion has claimed a whopping 17 Eldora triumphs during his tenure with the World of Outlaws. It’s the third winningest track on his record, and only Steve Kinser (41 wins) and Sammy Swindell (30 wins) have been more successful at Eldora. During one remarkable stretch from 2016 to 2019, Schatz topped nine of 16 Eldora features.
This weekend presents Schatz with an opportunity to shake off a recent slump aboard the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15.
SHARK STRENGTH
Eldora Speedway is a track that the Shark Racing duo of Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen have found plenty of success at during their nine years on the tour.
Schuchart has been especially strong. The Hanover, Pa. native has made three trips to Eldora Victory Lane – most recently in September of 2021. Schuchart has also podiumed in 10 of his last 24 series appearances. He enters the weekend fourth in points.
Allen has also been plenty productive. Of his 126 career top 10s, 10 of them have come at Eldora Speedway including a pair of top fives. Allen is fresh off his fifth best finish of the season and hopes to build more momentum at a track where he’s had speed in the past.
BAYSTON’S PROGRESS
Eldora proved to be a struggle for Spencer Bayston in the early part of his career, but he’s turned that narrative around.
In his first eight World of Outlaws starts at Eldora, Bayston wasn’t able to tally a top 10. In the six starts he’s made since, the CJB Motorsports pilot has missed the top 10 only twice and posted a best finish of fourth on two occasions.
The Lebanon, IN native looks to continue improving and stand on the podium at least once this weekend.
Bayston is also a former Eldora winner – topping a 2017 USAC Midget race at the track.
EVERYBODY AT THE BIG E
On top of the strong crop of World of Outlaws full-timers, #LetsRaceTwo is expected to attract many more talented gassers.
Last July, Brent Marks filled his wallet at Eldora by winning both The Historical Big One ($100,000) and Kings Royal ($175,000). Four of Marks’ 12 career World of Outlaws wins have come at Eldora (33%).
Tyler Courtney is stout no matter the kind of vehicle he’s in at Eldora. “Sunshine” has racked up 13 wins at the half-mile between Winged Sprint Cars, Non-Wing Sprint Cars, Midgets, and Silver Crown Cars. Among those is a Kings Royal triumph – currently his lone World of Outlaws victory.
Even Lance Dewease and the Kreitz Racing crew plan to depart from the porch in Pennsylvania to make the trip one state west.
More invaders expected include Justin Peck, Buddy Kofoid, Anthony Macri, and many more.
Local talents including the likes of Travis Philo, Cole Duncan, and others could also contend for impressive finishes.