Sprint Car Silly Season News Tracker: Driver Changes & More
Sprint Car Silly Season News Tracker: Driver Changes & More
Keeping track of all the driver changes, news, developments and more surrounding the 2025 Sprint Car silly season.
This year's edition of Sprint Car silly season has been well underway for what seems like months now.
From Giovanni Scelzi's abrupt departure of the KCP Racing team during Kings Royal week to Donny Schatz's release from Tony Stewart Racing after the Knoxville Nationals, plenty of shockwaves have been sent throughout the industry as the season nears the end.
Considering the influx of news and amount of developments that are TBD, we've rounded up everything you need to know in this Sprint Car Silly Season News Tracker.
Below you'll find a list of stories that have already been announced, along with notable drivers on the market for the 2026 season and noteworthy developments worth knowing and/or worth monitoring throughout the rest of 2025.
Notable Drivers On The Market For 2026
Sheldon Haudenschild
For the first time since establishing himself on the national circuit, his 44 wins on the World of Outlaws tied for 19th all-time, the eight-year driver for Stenhouse-Marshall Racing is testing the free agency market. Since 2017, Haudenschild's finished inside the top-seven of WoO points but has never finished higher than fourth (in 2020).
Considering his early September announcement and with the KCP Racing No. 18 as the apparent top nationally touring open seat, the Wooster, Ohio, driver could very well land with the Iowa-based team. (last updated Sept. 17)
Donny Schatz
Even at 45 years old and amid a winless season, the 11-time Knoxville Nationals winner and 10-time World of Outlaws champ might just be the most sought-after free agent in Sprint Car racing history. But the question still remains: Where will the former Tony Stewart Racing driver end up? There aren't many turnkey touring rides out there. Should Schatz replace someone on an established team, it might make silly season even sillier before too long.
Schatz is aboard the Paul Silva-prepared Kevin Kozlowski No. W through Sept. 19-20 at California's Tulare Speedway, but will need a ride when WoO returns east Sept. 26 at Ohio's Millstream Speedway. (last updated Sept . 16)
Giovanni Scelzi
Though Donny Schatz might be the most sought-after driver in this free agency class, the 23-year-old Scelzi is — in stick-and-ball parlance — a franchise player that any team desires to build their foundation around. At least for Scelzi, he's locked in with Clauson-Marshall Racing through the end of 2025 and perhaps the start of next season should Tyler Courtney need more time to heal. Where Scelzi ends up long-term remains TBD. (last updated Aug. 26)
Spencer Bayston
Navigating free agency can't be easier competing with Haudenschild, Schatz and Scelzi on the market. Bright side is at 26 years old, there's plenty of prime years ahead of him. His strong showing in High Limit's California swing (runner-up, two fifth-place finishes and a seventh) aboard the Paul Silva-prepared, Kevin Kozlowski-owned No. W and seventh-place finish with Tarlton Racing in Saturday's WoO event at Perris Auto Speedwa has to only improve his stock.
Sure, he would've liked to win with Silva on the wrenches, but Bayston reinforced he's still a threat to win wherever he might land and has two WoO races Sept. 19-20 with Tarlton Racing at Tulare Speedway. (last updated Sept. 16)
Zeb Wise
The 22-year-old of Angola, Ind., has been a free agent for 10 months now, since last October's end to the High Limit season. Simply put, Wise seems content with taking a break, whether for a year or more, from racing. He texted FloRacing that he's "not seeking any rides currently, but my phone is always on." The former All Star Circuit of Champions title winner is young enough he can take a year (or more) off from racing, wait for the right opportunity to open up, and still enjoy a successful Sprint Car career if he chooses. (last updated Aug. 26)
Kevin Thomas Jr.
The driver fifth all-time in USAC National Sprint Car wins has bounced around in the winged world, most recently parting ways with Heidbreider Motorsports following the Knoxville Nationals. Though he only has one winged 410 victory (Sept. 2023 with POWRi at Lake Ozark), the 34-year-old hopes to still carve out a career beyond his impressive wingless track record. Thomas told FloRacing he's currently looking for rides, "but it has to be the right deal." (last updated Aug. 26)
2025 Silly Season Developments And Notes
- Donny Schatz could legitimately end up anywhere imaginable. But there are a few teams that have already confirmed to FloRacing they won't pursue the 45-year-old's legendary exploits, namely Jason Johnson Racing and Central Pennsylvania's Kreitz Racing. (last updated Aug. 26)
- JJR has fielded two cars (the No. 14 alongside the No. 41) in the past, but they don't seem to be in the mix to land Schatz, instead keeping Macedo as their lone and premier driver.
- A combination kicked around on social media is Schatz and the Kreitz Racing No. 69K at this October's Williams Grove National Open. While car owner Don Kreitz Jr. admitted to FloRacing the idea of working with Schatz is fun to dream about, they remain committed to Daryn Pittman that weekend.
- Stock-rising Knoxville Nationals champ and Tuscarora 50 victor Ryan Timms is another driver tossed around that observers and fans tend to believe would look for a nationally touring ride apart from car owner Shane Liebig. Those claims have no substance as 18-year-old Timms and Liebig are fully committed to an identical schedule for 2026 — a focus on Knoxville and Huset's Raceways while traveling when they can. Liebig, who's ruled out prospects of touring nationally next season, is looking at campaigning on a national tour with Timms in 2027. (last updated Sept. 16)
- Kasey Kahne ruled out at the Knoxville Nationals that he'll hire another driver to race his currently-shelved No. 9 team. He wants to focus on giving Brad Sweet everything he needs for what'd be a seventh national title this season on High Limit Racing (five WoO titles). The 45-year-old Kahne isn't calling this a silent retirement — he wants to race in a Sprint Car and even in one-off NASCAR's national series events again — but there's no intentions of him racing anytime soon. (last updated Aug. 26)
WATCH: Kasey Kahne talks about recent crew changes within his Sprint Car program and what his future racing plans could look like.
- Emerson Axsom is a bit of wild card this Silly Season. His deal with KCP Racing is through the end of the World of Outlaws season at November's World Finals ... for now. Should the 20-year-old perform well enough, he could ink a longer-term deal for the Mitchellville, Iowa, team and WoO campaign in 2026. In 12 races with the team, he has two top-fives and five top-10s. Should the KCP team go another direction, Axsom will likely end back up in the Klaasmeyer-Petry No. 27 machine. (last updated Aug. 26)
- Kerry Madsen is expected to return to the Vermeer Motorsports No. 55 entry where he raced Knoxville Raceway weekly once his interim deal at Tony Stewart Racing runs its course through the end of the World of Outlaws season. (last updated Aug. 26)
- Multi-time Knoxville Nationals main event starter Dusty Zomer recently told FloRacing that while he's taken this year off from racing, he's working on assembling his own team for next year. Zomer has been a weekly competitor at Knoxville Raceway and Huset's Raceway in the past. (last updated Aug. 26)
- The mayor of Port Royal, Pa., (where Port Royal Speedway resides) Dylan Cisney told Jeremy Elliott of sprintcarunlimited.com on Aug. 13 that he's preparing to rekindle his own team for next season. Meanwhile, the PA Posse driver is finishing the year aboard the Stewart Smith Racing No. 27s entry while SSR driver Robbie Kendall as his wife soon welcomes their third child. (last updated Aug. 26)
- Tyler Courtney said on Aug. 12's High Limit Room podcast that he hopes to return for next Feb. 4's DIRTcar Nationals at Florida's Volusia Speedway Park. The Clauson-Marshall Racing driver broke his T-7 vertebrae in July 17's crash at Eldora.
2025 Sprint Car Silly Season Timeline
Rico Abreu Joining Tony Stewart Racing In Mega Announcement
Rico Abreu is set to become the latest high-profile driver at Tony Stewart Racing as the St. Helena, Calif., fan favorite’s preparing to merge his No. 24 family-owned team and join forces with Stewart’s Brownsburg, Ind., operation at the conclusion of the 2025 season.
- Rico Abreu Joining Tony Stewart Racing In Mega Announcement
- Tony Stewart Explains Why Rico Abreu Is The Perfect Hire
- Is Rico Abreu Racing High Limit Or The World Of Outlaws In 2026?
Longtime Central PA Sprint Car Team Hires Teenage Driver (Sept.)
Longtime Central Pennsylvania Sprint Car team Trone Outdoor Motorsports hired JJ Loss as its new driver for the remainder of the 2025 season, the Hanover, Pa., operation announced Sept. 10.
Sheldon Haudenschild To Depart SJM Racing Following 2025 Season (Sept.)
Sheldon Haudenschild will be a free agent following the conclusion of the 2025 World of Outlaws Sprint Car season in November, he announced on his social media channels that he's leaving Stenhouse-Marshall Racing at the end of the year.
Jason Meyers Racing Announces Multi-Driver Lineup To Finish 2025 (August)
Jason Meyers Racing announced Aug. 26 it'll employ a multi-driver lineup to finish out the 2025 Kubota High Limit Racing season, a rotation that'll feature former World of Outlaws champion Daryn Pittman and West Coast stalwarts Justin Sanders and Trey Starks alongside the team's primary driver, Corey Day.
Donny Schatz Finds Three Part-Time Deals After TSR Release (August)
In a span of 13 days following Aug. 12's release from Tony Stewart Racing, Donny Schatz struck part-time deals with Big Game Motorsports, Lunstra Motorsports and Kevin Kozlowski's Paul Silva-managed team for the World of Outlaws West Coast swing from Sept. 5-20.
- Donny Schatz Racing For Knoxville Nationals Champ On WoO West Coast
- Latest Update On Donny Schatz's Ride Situation, Hunt For Full-Time Team
- Q&A With Donny Schatz On Release From Tony Stewart Racing, What's Next
Spencer Bayston In Kozlowski No. W For High Limit Cali Races (August)
The 26-year-old of Lebanon, Ind., drove the Paul Silva-prepared No. W Works Limited owned by Kevin Kozlowski for the five-race California swing on the High Limit tour spanning Aug. 15-23. Bayston finished second, fifth, second, fifth and seventh in High Limit's California swing.
Scott Bogucki Joins Three Stooges Racing No. 51 (August)
After mutually parting ways with Gibbings Motorsports on Aug. 3, the former Knoxville Raceway regular landed with Three Stooges Racing to drive the Brownsburg, Ind., team's No. 51 Sprint Car. Bogucki plans to race for the team into 2026 as well.
Tony Stewart Racing Hires Kerry Madsen (August)
The nine-time title-winning World of Outlaws team brought on Australian veteran Kerry Madsen to fill Donny Schatz's vacated seat in the TSR No. 15 through November's World Finals. Madsen won six times in 37 starts aboard the TSR No. 14 in 2021.
Donny Schatz Released From Tony Stewart Racing (August)
One of the most successful pairings in Sprint Car racing history dissolved when Tony Stewart released Donny Schatz on Aug. 12, marking the end of an 18-year tenure that produced eight World of Outlaws titles nine Knoxville Nationals victories.
Corey Day The Primary Driver Of JMR No. 14, Still Part-Time (August)
With Spencer Bayston's departure, JMR revealed they're consolidating into a one-car operation with Corey Day currently as the stable's lone driver. Day, the Hendrick Motorsports development driver, remains on a part-time schedule.
Spencer Bayston, Jason Meyers Racing Part Ways (August)
Jason Meyers Racing and Spencer Bayston parted ways, the Fresno, Calif.-based team officially announced Aug. 10, the day after the Knoxville Nationals. Bayston started 16th and finished 22nd in his final race with the team at the Knoxville Nationals.
Kasey Kahne Racing Makes Team Changes Before Knoxville Nationals (August)
Kasey Kahne Racing revealed a pair of organizational changes to its Kubota High Limit Racing teams Aug. 2 before the Knoxville Nationals. Six-time reigning national Sprint Car champion Brad Sweet inherited the race-day crew of Kahne's No. 9 team the rest of the 2025 season while Kahne is planning to park his No. 9 race team for foreseeable future, saying he's devoting more focus toward being a team owner rather than a driver.
Emerson Axsom Joins KCP Racing No. 18 (July)
On July 22, KCP Racing tapped 20-year-old Emerson Axsom take over driving duties for its World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series operation through the end of 2025 following Giovanni Scelzi's departure.
Giovanni Scelzi Departs KCP Racing No. 18 Team (July)
A five-year tenure ended when 23-year-old Giovanni Scelzi abruptly departed the KCP Racing No. 18 team following July 16's Double Down Duels opener opener at Eldora Speedway. The news was announced by Scelzi one day after a big crash during Kubota High Limit Racing action.
Cory Eliason Joins Wheatley Motorsports No. 45 (June)
After parting ways with TKS Motorsports in May, the former Kubota High Limit Racing full-timer has been racing with Washington-based Wheatley Motorsports since mid-June
Tyler Walker Back In Sprint Car After Eight-Year Absence (June)
The 45-year-old former Kings Royal winner, who before this May hadn't raced in eight years, struck a part-time deal with Wellsville, Pa.'s Rutherford Motorsports and car owner Ron Rutherford that saw a full PA Speedweek run and memorable Kings Royal appearance.
Cale Thomas Reunites With Demyan-Rudzik No. 49x (June)
The Fairland, Ind., driver has been reunited with the Demyan-n-Rudzik Racing No. 49x team since June 6, collecting an All Star Circuit of Champions victory along the way June 28 at Mercer Raceway.
Jordan Thomas Joins, Then Leaves, Trone Outdoor No. 39 (June)
Pennsylvania-based Trone Outdoor Motorsports hired 27-year-old Jordan Thomas beginning June 20, but the deal only lasted through July 5's PA Speedweek event at Williams Grove, ending after seven races.
Cory Eliason, TKS Motorsports Part Ways (May)
The Mitchellville, Iowa, team announced May 26 it parted ways with California driver Cory Eliason, who had one top-five and two top-10s with the team in 17 races to that point.
Shark Racing Hires Ashton Torgerson To Drive No. 1A (April)
Central Pennsylvania-based Shark Racing reached across the country for Medford, Ore.'s Ashton Torgerson to fill the seat of the No. 1A long held by Jacob Allen. The 18-year-old with minimal 410 experience has surpassed expectations, picking up his first victory April 27 at BAPS Motor Speedway in his second-ever Central PA start.
- Shark Racing Taps West Coast Native To Drive No. 1A
- Jacob Allen Silences Keyboard Warriors With Ashton Torgerson Win At BAPS
- Jacob Allen 'Stepping Away' From Sprint Car Racing, Taking 'New Role'
Cale Thomas Released From Shark Racing (April)
Shark Racing pulled the plug on its two-week-old deal with Cale Thomas as the Hanover, Pa., team released the Indiana driver on April 20. Thomas only ran three events for Shark Racing as the original replacement for Jacob Allen, who retired from full-time racing at the beginning of April.
Jacob Allen Hires Cale Thomas As His Replacement (April)
Shark Racing named Cale Thomas as its new driver of the No. 1A, the ride relinquished by Jacob Allen on April 2 when the Hanover, Pa., fan favorite unexpectedly announced his retirement from full-time racing after 14 seasons.
Jacob Allen Retires From Racing Midseason (April)
Kubota High Limit Racing winner Jacob Allen announced April 2 he's retiring as a full-time Sprint Car driver, the Hanover, Pa., racer revealed in a lengthy social media post. The 30-year-old had been racing full-time for 14 seasons.