By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series will be returning to Red River Valley Speedway for the second consecutive season in 2018 on Saturday, August 18. The event will mark the 32nd year in which the World of Outlaws have visited the high-banked clay oval at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds as the series celebrates its 40th anniversary.

The 2017 event, which broke a five-year hiatus with the World of Outlaws, was one for the Red River Valley Speedway history books. An estimated 7,000 race fans from across the upper Midwest packed into the grandstands and witnessed Shane Stewart break the one-lap track record during time trials.

Third generation sprint car driver, Thomas Kennedy of Winnipeg, Manitoba was the Cinderella Story of the evening. The 27-year-old driver timed in fifth quickest of the 31 entries, won his heat race and went on to score a seventh-place finish in the main event.

Eunice, Louisiana’s Jason Johnson claimed his first career Red River Valley Speedway win after holding off Kerry Madsen and Shane Stewart.

The 2017 World of Outlaws season wrapped up Nov. 4 at the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Donny Schatz claimed his ninth series title.

Schatz led the series with 20 feature wins, becoming the first driver in series history to record 20 or more wins for five consecutive seasons.

The Fargo driver has four career wins in the World of Outlaws at his home track, most recently in 2006 when he swept both nights of action.

The NLRA late models are scheduled to co-headline the event with the World of Outlaws.