CONCORD, N.C. — Carson Macedo had the fastest car on the track all night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, but the fastest car doesn’t always win.
Macedo was within a lap and a half of winning the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series feature on night one of the World Final when his Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 sputtered.
It was enough for Logan Schuchart to storm past and steal the victory. Schuchart led the final two laps aboard the Shark Racing No. 1s. to earn his fifth victory of the season and gain some redemption after a rough ride during last year’s World Finals.
“After last year, this place owes us one, so anyway we can get it,” Schuchart said. “We fell out leading both races last year. The 41 car is fast and tough to beat anywhere we go. Our Drydene car runs really well here. It always has.”
Schuchart, who won for the fourth time at the four-tenths-mile track, said he wouldn’t have caught Macedo had he not had problems.
“I was hoping he’d make a mistake and he never really did,” said Schuchart, who earned $15,000. “If he hadn’t run out of fuel, we probably never would have gotten to him, but sometimes that’s how it goes.”
Macedo held on to finish second.
“The nozzle line broke off,” Macedo explained. “The fitting is screwed onto the nozzle but the line is gone. We did all we could tonight. We set fast time, won our heat, won the dash and led the feature. I think we would have won the feature had that not happened. Sometimes luck goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Three-time and reigning series champion Brad Sweet entered the night with a 16-point lead in the championship battle over David Gravel. Sweet brought his Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49 machine home third, while Gravel finished sixth.
Thus, Sweet will carry a 22-point lead into Friday night’s event. The sprint cars have tomorrow night off.
Rico Abreu finished fourth, with Gio Scelzi fifth.
Logan Schuchart, Carson Macedo, Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu, Gio Scelzi, David Gravel, Brock Zearfoss, Lance Dewease, Sheldon Haudenschild, Parker Price-Miller, Anthony Macri, Brian Brown, Kyle Reinhardt, Tyler Courtney, Justin Peck, Brent Marks, Spencer Bayston, Cole Macedo, Noah Gass, Kraig Kinser, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Robbie Price, Jacob Allen, Sye Lynch, Bill Rose, Donny Schatz, Cale Thomas, Buddy Kofoid, James McFadden.