In less than a month, the two premier divisions in dirt racing will team up for the biggest Bash of the year at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series return to the dirt-covered Last Great Colosseum April 28-30 for three nights of action with a more than $400,000 overall purse.
Thursday will be a practice night for both series while Friday and Saturday’s shows will be highlighted by $25,000-to-win Features for the Late Models and Sprint Cars.
Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson is entered to attempt something that’s never been done before – out-duel the Outlaws in a Sprint Car and Late Model on the same weekend, and potentially the same day. The Elk Grove, California-driver has entered to race the No. 57 Sprint Car for Silva Motorsports and the No. 6 Late Model for K&L Rumley Enterprises.
However, a field of the best Sprint Car and Late Model drivers in the world will stand in his way to make their own history and hoist the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway Gladiator Sword trophy.
Three-time and defending Sprint Car champion Brad Sweet – Larson’s brother-in-law – will be on the hunt to park his Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49 car in Victory Lane for the first time at the track. While on his quest for a fourth-consecutive title, the Grass Valley, California-driver has stated he’s holding nothing back to pick up as many wins as he can this year.
Joining him with the same mentality are 2019 Knoxville Nationals champion David Gravel – who swept the World of Outlaws Sprint Car events at Bristol last year – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing driver Sheldon Haudenschild, rising-star Carson Macedo, 10-time Series champion and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver Donny Schatz – who won at Bristol in 2001 – and many more.
“This is just such an iconic place everyone always talks about,” Gravel said after winning the series’ return to the track in 20 years last season.
For the Late Models, another all-star field of contenders are planning to bring their 800-plus horsepower machines to the half-mile speedway. Four-time Series champion Josh Richards, of Shinnston, West Virginia, returns to defend his inaugural win, along with fellow four-time series champion Brandon Sheppard, who is chasing Richards for a seat atop the mountain. They’re both on the hunt for their fifth title and Richards is currently only a win ahead of Sheppard for the most Series victories all-time.
They’ll be joined by Newport, Tennessee’s Jimmy Owens, current series points leader Dennis Erb Jr., of Carpentersville, Illinois, Pennsylvania’s Max Blair – one of the top Rookie of the Year contenders with a win already this season – Bristol winners Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport and Chris Madden, and more.