Last weekend one of the seasons most important races on the US Sprintcar calendar took place  at Williams Grove Speedway. The National Open is a traditional clash between the Pennsylvania Posse and the World of Outlaws. The race with a big purse is a magnet for many Teams outside of the Outlaws and Posse groups

The National Open this year was an opportunity for race fans, Teams and Speedway officials to honor the recent death of Outlaw Star Jason Johnson and the very recent death of loved Posse member Greg Hodnett.

The emotional week end saw an outpouring of respect for the two Champions of the Sport with many race Teams and fans showing their support and respect in many ways.

Logo and messages on Race Cars and fans taking up the opportunity to buy merchandise to remember their lost hero.

Bragging right this week end are sought by the Posse and the Outlaws. The Outlaws are recognized across the Speedway World as the premier Sprintcar group, but the Posse fans and officials dispute this at every opportunity, this race week end is the perfect place to settle the argument where it matters on dirt at Williams Grove the home of the National Open,

Night one of the National Open went to the amazing teenager 16-year-old Giovanni Scelzi aboard the Indy Race Parts #71. The youngster became the youngest ever winner of a World of Outlaws A Main and on his way passed Outlaw star David Gravel to collect $10K for the win. Gio also clocked the fastest time during qualifying.

At this point of the meeting it was Posse Nil, World of Outlaws Nil and the invader from Indiana 1

Night two and the Teams regroup totally focused on preparing their race car for the big money on offer for the race win and the National Open Title, not the mention the bragging rights for the next year.

The pressure was intense with $56K up for grabs for the winners.

Night two started for the youngster in the Indy Parts #71 just like it ended the previous night with Giovanni Scelzi again posting the fastest time during qualifying. A strong second place in the dash gave Giovanni a start from P3 for the Main event and every chance to collect the $56K.

The competition on night two was going to be much harder with improved qualifying by many of the top Outlaws as well as the driver with the most wins at Williams Grove Lance Dewease in the Don Kreitz #69K.

Brock Zearfoss was on pole with lance Dewease on his outside. Scelzi in row three. Zearfoss won the start and lead the race for 23 laps before Dewease made a sensational pass between Zearfoss and lapped car. Dewease had dogged Zearfoss for most of the 23 laps and always looked in control. It’s a pity young Scelzi got lost in traffic and struggle and could not reproduce the sizzling pace and control of night one.

As the race continued Dewease strengthen his position and put space between his 69K and chasing Outlaw Pittman.

With the checker out Dewease easily cross for his fourth National Open win ahead of Pittman and Monteith who had been on the pace early challenging both Zearfoss and Dewease for the early lead.

Dewease and Kreitz Jr a team without the Glitz, glamour, fancy Transporter but with an imposing record.

Lance dedicated his win to his friend the late Greg Hodnett.

AS the lights fade at Williams Grove the Posse take the shine off the Outlaws, but they are very much aware of the talent that awaits them the next time they come up against Giovanni Sceliz and the Indy Race Parts #71.

Race Results Night one:

Feature (27 Laps): 1. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [2][$10,000]; 2. 5-David Gravel [1][$5,000]; 3. 24-Lucas Wolfe [5][$3,000]; 4. 51-Freddie Rahmer [8][$2,700]; 5. 2-Shane Stewart [12][$2,500]; 6. 44-Trey Starks [6][$2,200]; 7. 21X-Brian Montieth [3][$2,000]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet [17][$1,800]; 9. 21-Brian Brown [7][$1,600]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [22][$1,450]; 11. 9-Daryn Pittman [13][$1,300]; 12. 19-Brent Marks [23][$1,200]; 13. 18-Ian Madsen [11][$1,100]; 14. 69K-Lance Dewease [19][$1,000]; 15. 27-Paul McMahan [21][$950]; 16. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [25][$200]; 17. 11-T.J. Stutts [14][$850]; 18. 48-Danny Dietrich [24][$750]; 19. 1X-Chad Trout [27][$25]; 20. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$700]; 21. 49X-Tim Shaffer [9][$700]; 22. O7-Gerard McIntyre [18][$700]; 23. 39-Cory Haas [26][$]; 24. 55K-Robbie Kendall [20][$700]; 25. 41-Carson Macedo [15][$700]; 26. 94-Ryan Smith [16][$700]; 27. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4][$700]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-15, Giovanni Scelzi 16-27; KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz[+12]

Race Results Night two:

Feature (40 Laps): 1. 69K-Lance Dewease [2][$56,000]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [8][$12,000]; 3. 21X-Brian Montieth [5][$7,500]; 4. 49X-Tim Shaffer [10][$4,000]; 5. 94-Ryan Smith [12][$3,500]; 6. 21-Brian Brown [4][$3,000]; 7. 11-T.J. Stutts [9][$2,700]; 8. 27-Paul McMahan [15][$2,500]; 9. 2-Shane Stewart [22][$2,200]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][$2,100]; 11. O7-Gerard McIntyre [13][$2,000]; 12. 39-Cory Haas [16][$1,650]; 13. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [3][$1,550]; 14. 15-Donny Schatz [6][$1,200]; 15. 51-Freddie Rahmer [28][$100]; 16. 5-David Gravel [19][$1,050]; 17. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [20][$1,000]; 18. 24-Lucas Wolfe [26][$]; 19. 18-Ian Madsen [24][$1,000]; 20. 41-Carson Macedo [18][$1,000]; 21. 19-Brent Marks [23][$1,000]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [25][$]; 23. 55K-Robbie Kendall [14][$1,000]; 24. 11K-Kraig Kinser [27][$]; 25. 15G-Jordan Givler [17][$1,000]; 26. 4-Brock Zearfoss [1][$1,000]; 27. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$1,000]; 28. 1-Logan Wagner [21][$1,000]; Lap Leaders: Brock Zearfoss 1-23, Lance Dewease 24-40; KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Shane Stewart[+13]

Photos credit  : Williams Grove,World of Outlaws and Jack Kromer Photography 

Ian Madsen Going Full-Time Outlaw Racing in 2018

CONCORD, NC – November 11, 2017 – It is with great excitement that the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series announces that Australian Ian Madsen will join the Series full-time in 2018. Madsen, the 2017 Knoxville Raceway Track Champion, scored his second career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory during the running of the 39th Annual AGCO Jackson Nationals at the Jackson Motorplex in Minnesota in June of this year.

“We’ve been gearing up to go full-time Outlaw racing the past few years,” the 32-year old Australian said. It’s true. In 2017, the KCP Racing No.18 raced 90 times with Madsen able to secure 11 victories throughout the season. “We’ve been committed to Knoxville on Saturday’s the past few years, but outside of that we’ve run everywhere. Running with the Outlaws will give us more structure,” Madsen added.

Madsen was a familiar face with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series in 2017, scoring 21 top-ten finishes. Most recently, Madsen competed with The Greatest Show on Dirt at the Textron Off Road World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway and came home with a second-place finish on Night 2.

Madsen is accomplished in his native land Down Under as well, scoring a preliminary night win at the Grand Annual Sprint Car Classic this season and following that up with a second-place finish in the Australian Title Finale, an event that saw over 100 cars compete.

In 16 Features at Knoxville Raceway this season, Madsen was in the top-ten all 16 times and added 12 top-five finishes, nine podiums and five wins en route to the track championship. On sprint car’s biggest stage, the 5-Hour ENERGY Knoxville Nationals, Madsen was strong all weekend, finishing inside in the top-ten of the 50-lap finale.

Madsen, crew chief Kyle Ripper and the KCP team have worked seamlessly together, becoming one of the most potent teams in the country. But Madsen knows next year will be different, “We don’t have any result orientated goals. We will do the best we can and perform to the best of our ability.”

“If you want to be the best, you’ve got to race with the best,” Madsen simply stated for the main reasoning behind joining the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series as a platinum member.

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series is pleased to welcome Ian Madsen and the entire KCP Racing team to the Series full-time in 2018 and for many years in the future.:

World of Outlaws Sprintcar Press Release

Outlaws on the move Florida to Texas.

With the first three events of the 2017 calendar already in the books the World of Outlaw Sprintcar teams haul their way up from Florida to the bad lands of Texas for two shows .The first at the Lone Star Speedway  Kilgore and then onto the Gator Motorplex at Willis.

The defending Outlaw Champion Donny Schatz has two wins from the three starts and sits on top of the points from Chad Kemenah and Jason Johnson, Kerry Madsen and Brad Sweet.

Night one in Texas will be the Lone star Speedway a high banked 1/3 mile Clay oval and the following night at the Bullring at the Gator Motorplex. The Gator Motorplex is a ¼ Mile high banked with about the widest straight-a-ways the Outlaws encounter. The straight has been widened from 35 feet to 50 feet and the corners from 60 to 70 feet so expect plenty of aggressive passes. Jason Johnson goes into the Gator show having won there at his last two starts. Most of the contracted Outlaws will be making their first appearance at the bullring.

The 2017 season promises to be one of the most competitive in years and although Schatz has started more strongly than previous years the changed Team line ups are sure to spark some intense competition .New cars and Teams for Kerry Madsen and Joey Saldana has had some mixed results.Kerry Madsen already has put the Go Muddy unit in victory lane while Saldana has had a scare or two down in Florida.

The top 5 in the points heading to Texas ;