In the first five races of the West Coast Swing for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, five different drivers have picked up wins. For the season, six drivers have been victorious in the first seven races. The only repeat winner has been series point leader Daryn Pittman, who swept the opening two races in Florida in February. The West Coast Swing continues for the Outlaws the next three weekends, with four more races in California, followed by a pair of shows in Arizona.

Schuchart ‘Cowboys up’ at Stockton

Logan Schuchart looked like he has a Professional Bull Rider on March 16 at the Stockton Dirt Track, as he tamed the rough, choppy and hole-filled three-eighths-mile to earn his first win of the season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. Schuchart took the lead on the opening lap, but fell to second on the 12^thcircuit, when he hit a rut and got all four wheels in the air, allowing Shane Stewart to take the top spot. Schuchart returned the favor on lap-23, when Stewart got out of shape on the ‘Cowboy up’ type of track. The win helped Schuchart move into a tie for fourth in points, which is the highest position he has ever held with the series.

Master of Silver Dollar Speedway

Carson Macedo scored his first-career World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win at Silver Dollar Speedway in 2014. He followed that up on March 15, by earning his second win with the series at the quarter-mile in his home state of California. Macedo started seventh and made a charge, during the second half of the race, to take the lead from Brad Sweet. The win vaulted Macedo into the top-five in the series standings as he continued his rookie season for Kyle Larson Racing.

Clean sweep

Ian Madsen became the first driver this season to sweep an entire night of racing, when he accomplished the feat at Thunderbowl Raceway on March 9. The native of St. Marys, NSW, Australia, was fastest in time trials, won the first heat race, won the dash and led all 35 laps of the main event. Madsen lapped all the way up to and including the 11^th-place finisher. The win was the fourth of his career with the Outlaws. Madsen carried that momentum into the next race at Silver Dollar Speedway, where he ran third.

Stealing a win

Donny Schatz stole the win in the finale at Las Vegas on February 28 from Daryn Pittman on the last lap, coming off turns three and four, winning a drag race to the line. For Schatz, it was his first win of the season. The North Dakota native started on the pole and led the first 13 laps, with Pittman taking command from lap 14-29, with Schatz edging him out at the line on the last circuit. The 10-time and defending series champion leads all drivers at Las Vegas with 13-career wins.

Always a threat

Tim Shaffer and the Demyan-Rudzik Racing showed again that they can contend anytime they pull into the pit area. Making the trip long trip out west to Las Vegas, Shaffer was victorious on the opening night at the half-mile on February 27. With Cody Jacobs turning the wrenches, Shaffer earned his fourth-career Outlaws win at Las Vegas and first since 2005. For the native of Aliquippa, PA, it was his 26^thcareer World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win.

California connection

In the opener at Las Vegas, California drivers claimed six spots among the top-10. Tim Kaeding led the way with his third-place finish, while Rico Abreu was fourth and Gio Scelzi fifth. Kyle Larson, aboard the No. 57 for Paul Silva, earned the Hard Charger Award, coming from 20^th to sixth. Cory Eliason continued his solid start to the 2019 campaign, crossing the line eight, while fellow Golden Stater Brad Sweet came from 22^nd to 9^th.

In the finale at Las Vegas, Larson finished fifth, with Carson Macedo, who drivers for Kyle Larson Racing in sixth. Shane Golobic also represented the California contingent, with an eighth-place showing.

Another strong start

Donny Schatz is the only driver who has finished among the top-10 in each of the first seven races of the season. Following his first win of the season at Las Vegas, he ran 10^thon a very fast and challenging surface at Thunderbowl Raceway. The next weekend, Schatz charged from 13^thto fourth at Silver Dollar Speedway and was eighth at Stockton. That helped the 10-time and defending series champion to cut Daryn Pittman’s lead in the point standings to single digits.

Wearing two hats

Along with competing in the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway, Brad Sweet also was the promoter of the event, which brought the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series back to the quarter-mile in his home state, in the spring, for the first time since 2016. The Californian led the first 20 laps at Silver Dollar Speedway, ultimately finishing second. He followed that up at Stockton with another runner-up showing. Sweet will also be the promoter for the 49er Gold Rush Classic at his home track of Placerville Speedway on 23.

Moving on up

A handful of drives gained significant positions at Silver Dollar Speedway. Dominic Scelzi, who has cut back his schedule this year as he focused on working at the family business, came from 14^th to fifth. Logan Schuchart powered his way from 11^th to sixth. Daryn Pittman, the current series point leader, charged from 18^thto ninth. Rico Abreu, who was caught up in an early-race accident, worked his way back to 10^th. Aaron Reutzel earned the Hard Charger Award with a drive from 24^th to 11^th.

At Stockton, Reutzel powered his way from 12^th to fourth, while Abreu came from 14^th to sixth. Carson Macedo, who had to come through the B-main, one night after winning at Silver Dollar Speedway, earned the Hard Charger Award, coming from 23^rd to seventh. Sheldon Haudenschild, who has to use a provisional to start the main event, sliced through the field to finish 10^th, after starting 25^th.

Fast out of the box

Tim Kaeding made his first start of the season as a teammate to Jason Sides at Las Vegas. The California native finished a solid third, which continued a strong string of races for Kaeding aboard the No. 7S, dating back to last season. Kaeding and Sides are tentatively scheduled to race about 30 times, together this season, including all of the West Coast races and other big events. Sides finished ninth in the finale at Las Vegas. Kaeding carried that speed to California, where he was on the podium in third at Stockton.

California Fire Relief Tour

The California Fire Relief Tour recently kicked off at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., and continued at Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif. The mission of the “Tour” is to assist the thousands of Northern and Southern California residents who were effected by last year’s devastating wildfires. Starting at Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday, March 15 and running through the race at Perris Auto Speedway on March 30, $1 of every ticket sold will be donated directly to California fire relief. 

Also, $5 from each Outlaws California Fire Relief Tour t-shirt sold will be donated to California fire relief. Fans unable to attend the races in California that would like to participate can purchase the Outlaws California Fire Relief Tour shirt online and can also purchase additional tickets to donate to local firemen.

Shark Racing showing speed

Jacob Allen was fastest in the first flight of time trials and fastest overall in the opener at Las Vegas. Allen’s teammate at Shark Racing, Logan Schuchart was fastest in the first flight in the finale. Schuchart powered his way from the 10^th starting spot to finish a season-best third on the final night in Vegas. Allen was fastest in time trials again at the Stockton Dirt Track, with Schuchart, who would ultimately win the main event, second-fastest in qualifying.

Schedule update

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series has added a date at Dubuque Speedway in Iowa on Sunday, June 23. The event will mark the series’ first visit to the three-eights-mile fairgrounds overall. Dubuque Speedway will be the ninth track in the state of Iowa that the Outlaws have raced at, dating back to the inaugural 1978 season.

Points update

Daryn Pittman continues to hold a slim lead the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series standings, with just four points separating him from 10-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz. Pittman has been on top of the standings since his win on opening night last month in Florida. Brad Sweet is third in the standings, 10 markers back. Carson Macedo and Logan Schuchart are currently tied for fourth, 58 points behind. Aaron Reutzel is sixth, with David Gravel seventh, Cory Eliason eighth, Ian Madsen ninth and Shane Stewart 10^th.