ROSSBURG, Ohio – #LetsRaceTwo turned into #LetsRaceFour at Eldora Speedway, as unfavorable track conditions Friday night prompted track officials to shift Saturday’s schedule to a four-feature format, including two races for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.
After a five-hour rain delay pushed the beginning of Friday’s show into the early morning hours on Saturday, the World of Outlaws field completed hot laps and Slick Woody’s Qualifying before postponing the remainder of the program to Saturday afternoon.
David Gravel earned his series-best fifth fast time of the season with a lap of 12.608 seconds, only .009 seconds shy of his own Eldora track record set last September and a new World of Outlaws mark at the half-mile dirt oval in Rossburg, Ohio.
Already a two-time winner on half-mile ovals this year, Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 will look to back up their Bristol Throwdown sweep with another potential double, this time at Eldora.
Timing in behind Gravel was a trio of invaders all hoping to breakthrough for their first World of Outlaws win at Eldora. Brian Brown was second at 12.721 seconds in the FVP Parts No. 21, while Tyler Courtney was third at 12.745 seconds in the NOS Energy Drink No. 7BC and Spencer Bayston was fourth at 12.795 seconds in the CJB Motorsports No. 5.
Rookie-of-the-year contender James McFadden was fifth-quick at 12.831 seconds in the Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb No. 9.
Entering on a three-race winning streak, two-time defending series champion Brad Sweet suffered his worst qualifying result of the season, as the Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb-owned, NAPA Auto Parts-backed No. 49 ended up buried 23rd fastest among the 30 cars that timed in.
Other storylines ahead of Eldora’s doubleheader include Tony Stewart Racing’s Donny Schatzchasing his 1,900th career World of Outlaws feature start, among other accomplishments, and 2013 Outlaws champion Daryn Pittman returning to action with the Swindell SpeedLab No. 39 team.
On Saturday, pit gates will open at 12 p.m., with spectator gates opening at 1 p.m. and hot laps scheduled for 2:30 p.m., with Friday’s heat races to follow.
Once the first program is done, the facility will be swept and the track will be re-worked, with the second program slated to begin at 6 p.m.
All tickets and pit passes from Friday will be honored for the afternoon show, and all tickets for Saturday’s originally scheduled show will be honored for the 6 p.m. event. A limited number of tickets remain available to purchase for both shows.
The qualifying times:
1. #2 – David Gravel, 12.608; 2. #21 – Brian Brown, 12.721; 3. #7BC – Tyler Courtney, 12.745; 4. #5 – Spencer Bayston, 12.795; 5. #9 – James McFadden, 12.831; 6. #13 – Justin Peck, 12.837; 7. #41 – Carson Macedo, 12.838; 8. #11 – Ian Madsen, 12.858; 9. #14 – Kerry Madsen, 12.861; 10. #3Z – Brock Zearfoss, 12.872; 11. #39 – Daryn Pittman, 12.884; 12. #17 – Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.888; 13. #15 – Donny Schatz, 12.894; 14. #10 – Zeb Wise, 12.904; 15. #2C – Wayne Johnson, 12.919; 16. #83 – Aaron Reutzel, 12.922; 17. #1S – Logan Schuchart, 12.930; 18. #1A – Jacob Allen, 12.930; 19. #26 – Cory Eliason, 12.932; 20. #7S – Jason Sides, 12.940; 21. #19 – Parker Price-Miller, 12.946; 22. #11K – Kraig Kinser, 13.007; 23. #49 – Brad Sweet, 13.058; 24. #24 – Rico Abreu, 13.067; 25. #W20 – Greg Wilson, 13.067; 26. #22 – Jac Haudenschild, 13.083; 27. #19M – Brent Marks, 13.104; 28. #18X – Cole Macedo, 13.154; 29. #97 – Cole Duncan, 13.183; 30. #18S – Bryce Schmitt, 14.406.