World of Outlaws | Karnac Racing News

Hearn fends off Sheppard to pick up Super DIRTcar Series victory at Charlotte

World of Outlaws World Finals Win Widens Point Gap Between Leader Hearn and Runner-up Sheppard

110813_HearnLenhart-page001 CONCORD, N.C. – Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 – Brett Hearn is rounding out another strong Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series season with unparalleled success at the World of Outlaws World Finals. After winning two heat races Thursday, Hearn made the redraw for Friday’s feature, drew the pole, and led the 40-lap race flag to flag.

“I knew we had a good car yesterday in qualifying,” Hearn reflected after Friday’s victory, which didn’t come easy with Matt Sheppard and Stewart Friesen challenging Hearn’s supremacy.

Three-time defending Super DIRTcar Series Champion Matt Sheppard was just over 100 points shy of the tour leader, Hearn, before Friday’s race, and went into the feature hoping to pick up his first Charlotte win and shake up the point standings. Sheppard started the race in seventh, but by the second lap was challenging Ryan Godown for third thanks to a strong restart. (more…)

By Scott|2013-11-11T14:42:53-05:00November 11th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Super DirtCar Series|Comments Off

Hearn, Planck, Friesen and Godown Kick off World of Outlaws World Finals with Two Heat Wins

Point leader Hearn Starts Friday’s and Saturday’s Features in Top Five

110713_WFHearn-page001 CONCORD, N.C. – Friday, Nov. 8, 2013 – Brett Hearn is ready to wrap up yet another Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series season with a flourish. Last year’s series finale race winner has started the World of Outlaws World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte with two heat race finishes Thursday, Nov. 7, putting him among the top starters in Friday’s and Saturday’s feature events.

“It’s unique that we know on Thursday night that we’re going to be starting up front both Friday night andSaturday night already,” said Hearn, who heads into the World of Outlaws World Finals with the Super DIRTcar Series point lead over Matt Sheppard. “It takes a little bit of the anxiety away and helps us sleep a little bit better at night.”

However, Hearn wasn’t the only one to see success Thursday. Dale Planck, Stewart Friesen and Ryan Godown also went two-for-two in their respective heats and will redraw among the top five both Friday andSaturday. Gary Tomkins will join the redraw Friday, but narrowly missed the cut for Saturday’s race. Tim McCreadie took victory in the last heat race of the night, starting fourth and within just a few laps battling Tomkins for the lead. (more…)

By Scott|2013-11-08T16:45:55-05:00November 8th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Race Results, Super DirtCar Series|Comments Off

Meyers on Top for Friday; McMahan Tops Saturday

Schatz comes up big with two-second place qualifying efforts in final two qualifying efforts of 2013

CONCORD, N.C. – Nov. 7, 2013 – Two-time World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series champion Jason Meyers and this year’s leading qualifier Paul McMahan set the pace on Thursday’s qualifying night to kick off the seventh annual World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Meyers, in the Kasey Kahne Racing Ollie’s Bargain Outlet car, topped the first round of qualifying used to line up Friday night’s event with a lap of 12.912 seconds around the 4/10-mile oval. McMahan earned his 17^th quick time honor of the season by posting a lap of 13.410 seconds to lead the second round of qualifying used for Saturday night’s race.

“It feels great, this entire team really rallied together,” said Meyers of Clovis, Calif., after setting quick time in a car he raced for the first time on Thursday. “We didn’t have that good of a qualifying hot lap session, we came in, made some changes and really hit it. I honestly feel we could have been a little bit better and it is very impressive how well everyone here works together.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-11-08T16:38:03-05:00November 8th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Race Results, Sprint Cars|Comments Off

Moyer Sweeps Qualifying Night Fast-Time Honors In World of Outlaws World Finals Debut

Veteran Driver Tops 74-Car Field On Opening Night Of Blockbuster Event At The Dirt Track At Charlotte

110713_WFQualifying CONCORD, NC – Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., made a spectacular debut at the World of Outlaws World Finals, sweeping fast-time honors in both rounds of Thursday’s Qualifying Night program at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

The legendary driver was perfect in his first-ever World Finals appearance, topping an ultra-competitive field of 74 cars that were signed in for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series portion of the huge tripleheader weekend. The event also attracted 55 winged machines for the companion World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series meet and 49 entries for the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified action.

World Finals Qualifying Night featured two rounds of WoO LMS time trials – the first to line upFriday night’s heat races and the second to align Saturday night’s preliminaries.

Moyer, 56, turned a lap of 15.413 seconds in Group ‘A’ during the first round of time trials and bettered that with a circuit of 15.304 seconds in Group ‘B’ during Round 2. His clockings were the overall fastest of both qualifying legs, giving him the 17^th and 18^th WoO LMS fast-time honors of his career. (more…)

By Scott|2013-11-08T16:00:46-05:00November 8th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Late Models, Race Results|Comments Off

With Brandon Sheppard Playing ‘Super Sub’ Role, Mark Richards Celebrates First-Ever Victory In Dirt Track World Championship

Veteran Team Owner Enjoys $50,000 Triumph In Ohio During Break From World of Outlaws Late Model Series Schedule

10-21-MarkShep CONCORD, NC – Oct. 21, 2013 – When Mark Richards added the 33^rd annual Red Buck Dirt Track World Championship to his team’s racing schedule earlier this year, he assumed his son Josh would be behind the wheel of his familiar Rocket Chassis house car for the 100-lap event at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park.

But after Josh informed his father late in the summer that he couldn’t compete in promoter Carl Short’s traditional fall special because he had plans with his fiancée, the elder Richards kept the DTWC on his radar. He decided to enter the race with reigning DIRTcar Summer Nationals and UMP national champion Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., substituting for Josh – and considering the results, he’s glad he did.

In a dramatic cameo last Saturday night, Sheppard, 20, captured the DTWC’s $50,000 top prize to give Richards a coveted first-ever victory in the crown-jewel show that has its roots in his home state of West Virginia. (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-22T13:40:34-04:00October 22nd, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Late Models, Racing News, World of Outlaws|Comments Off

Donny Schatz Powers to 22nd Victory at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park

Five-time champ closes gap in quest for another World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car title

101313_Top3Photo ELBRIDGE, N.Y. – Oct. 12, 2013 – Donny Schatz’s remarkable World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series season continued on Saturday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park as he powered to his 22nd victory of the year.

Schatz, who is chasing Daryn Pittman for the series championship, put his STP/Armor All J&J on the pole for the 25-lap main event, where he was nearly untouchable in a dominating performance that sliced into Pittman’s advantage. Schatz will trail Pittman, who finished fourth, by 52 points entering the World Finals on Nov. 7-8-9 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

“It was a good night, I got qualified decent and had a good heat race, really good dash and built on it for the feature,” said Schatz, of Fargo, N.D., who is fourth all-time in World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series history with 146 wins, seven behind Mark Kinser. “In the 25 laps, the car changed quite a bit, but the guys did a really good job, and they keep finding ways to make this car better and more fun for me to drive. I tried to play my lap traffic smart and get around them as quick as I could without jeopardizing anything.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-14T15:22:38-04:00October 14th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Race Results, Sprint Cars|Comments Off

Danny Johnson Captures DIRTcar ‘Hurricane 100’ at Brewerton Speedway

Packed House Watches Veteran Star Earn $10,000 Top Prize For Spectacular Drive

101013_BrewertonVL BREWERTON, NY – Oct. 10, 2013 – Danny Johnson turned a moribund night into an unforgettable evening on Thursday at Brewerton Speedway.

Recovering from a poor qualifying effort that had him pining to leave the one-third-mile oval, Johnson charged forward from the 26^th starting spot to capture the DIRTcar 358-Modified SUNY-Canton ‘Hurricane 100.’

Johnson, 53, of Phelps, N.Y., pocketed $10,000 for his convincing march to victory, which he clinched by passing Matt Sheppard of Waterloo, N.Y., for the lead on lap 79. The DIRTcar Northeast superstar cruised away from the pack over the remaining distance to top a wildly competitive race that featured six changes among five drivers and a battle for second place that wasn’t decided until the checkered flag.

Pat Ward of Genoa, N.Y., finished in that runner-up spot, nipping Sheppard by a couple car lengths at the finish line after his late-race charge saw him overtake Sheppard at the white flag. Sheppard, who led la 60 and 66-78, settled for third place, falling short of repeating his triumph in the previous night’s DIRTcar 358-Modified Series 75-lapper at Weedsport (N.Y.) Speedway. (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-11T19:04:37-04:00October 11th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Race Results, Super DirtCar Series|Comments Off

Fred Rahmer Earns His First Williams Grove Speedway National Open Victory in Final Attempt of His Career

Pennsylvania Legend Earns $50,000 at World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Crown Jewel

Rahmer MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – Oct. 5, 2013 – Fred Rahmer sure knows how to throw a retirement party. Rahmer, the leader of the Pennsylvania Posse competing on Saturday in what is widely expected to be his final National Open at Williams Grove Speedway, won the historic event for the first time in his hall-of-fame career.

Rahmer and Steve Buckwalter swapped the lead before Rahmer moved to the front for good on lap 14 of the 40-lap, $50,000-to-win crown jewel event.

“It’s absolutely incredible,” said Rahmer, of Salfordville, Pa. “I don’t know what to say. It sure felt good going across the scales and all the Outlaw guys coming up and congratulating me, that meant more than the 50 grand. One of my goals this year was to win an Outlaw race, and it’s a high goal to set. Everyone had me dead and buried and washed up. This proves them wrong.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-07T14:19:20-04:00October 7th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Race Results, Sprint Cars|Comments Off

Richards Gets Elbows Up To Reach Victory Lane For Second Time In Pevely Nationals At Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55

West Virginia Star Pads World of Outlaws Late Model Series Points Lead With Ninth Triumph Of 2013 Season

091413_PevelyVL PEVELY, MO – Sept. 14, 2013 – Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., roared back into the World of Outlaws Late Model Series spotlight with an elbows-up victory in Saturday night’s 55-lap Pevely Nationals at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.

Twenty-four hours after absorbing a rare DNF, Richards wrestled the lead from Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., on lap 32 and turned back a late challenge from Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., to register his ninth WoO LMS triumph of 2013. The $10,650 score also made him the first driver to win twice in the seven World of Outlaws A-Mains contested since 2005 at the high-banked, one-third-mile oval.

Adding more importance to his checkered flag, Richards, 25, padded his points lead in the chase for the $100,000 WoO LMS championship to a season-high 114 points over Lanigan and Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., who ended the night tied for second in the standings. Richards can clinch his third career title on the national tour by averaging an 11^th-place finish over the final five events of the campaign.

“It feels good to have a little bit of a cushion,” Richards said of his healthy edge in the World of Outlaws standings. “We lost it last night (after a broken rearend left him with a 19^th-place finish at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill.), so it feels good to come back with a win tonight.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-09-16T15:34:12-04:00September 16th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Late Models, Race Results|Comments Off

Matt Sheppard wins thriller at Mohawk International Raceway

Defending series champion battles track champion Billy Dunn to the finish

Photo Courtesy: Rick Young

AKWESASNE, N. Y. – Saturday, September 15, 2013 – After a thrilling 100 laps, Matt Sheppard, of Waterloo, N. Y., claimed victory in the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series feature at Mohawk International Raceway.

Sheppard charged forward from his 11th starting position to crack the top-five by lapp 25. Soon enough, Sheppard was in second and challenging then-leader Billy Dunn for the top spot. Sheppard took the lead in lap 56, and the two swapped positions several times in an exciting battle to the finish.

“Me and Billy went at it for…I don’t know how many laps, but it seemed like a lot,” said Sheppard, the three-time defending Super DIRTcar Series Champion. “It was a lot of fun. All I know is we had a good car, we got up front.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-09-16T15:31:20-04:00September 16th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Super DirtCar Series|Comments Off