Tag Archives: Red River Valley Speedway

World of Outlaws Will Return to Red River Valley Speedway in 2019

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By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series will return to Red River Valley Speedway in 2019 for the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas. The event scheduled for Saturday, August 17th will mark the third consecutive year and 33rd-time overall dirt track racing’s premier touring series will visit the West Fargo high-banked three-eighths-mile clay oval.

Newly crowned 10-time champion, Donny Schatz, and the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars will return to Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo in 2019. (Photo by: Speedway-Shots.com)

Fargo’s own Donny Schatz scored his first World of Outlaws win at the speedway since 2006 when he won this past August. Schatz, who started third on the grid, made a late-race pass on young Outlaws star, David Gravel of Watertown, Conn., to take the lead and eventually the win in front of an estimated 6,500 race fans.

Local favorites, Mark Dobmeier of Grand Forks (13) and Thomas Kennedy of Winnipeg, Manitoba (21K), race side by side during the Outlaws feature in 2018 at Red River Valley Speedway. (Photo by: Speedway-Shots.com)

Along with his win at Red River Valley, Schatz also swept the June and August events at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks. Those three wins in his home state were a part of a 22-win season for Schatz – his sixth consecutive season of winning at least 20 events.

Donny Schatz (15) and Brad Seng (12) race for the lead during the NLRA Late Model feature at Red River Valley Speedway during the 2018 Outlaws event. (Photo by: Speedway-Shots.com)

The Northern Late Model Racing Association (NLRA) will co-headline the event with the Outlaws again in 2019. As he’s done in the past, Schatz is expected to compete in both the sprint car and late model divisions. In last year’s late model feature, the Fargo driver led nine of the 25 laps but eventually fell to veteran Grand Forks driver, Brad Seng, and finished third.

Tickets will be available this spring at slspromotions.com.

Red River Valley Speedway has already released their tentative 2019 schedule for Friday night IMCA-sanctioned racing. This upcoming season will be the seventh year of competition on the three-eighths-mile configuration and the fourth year operated by Nick Skalicky and Jake and Sharnel Bitker.

Highlights on the schedule include the season opener on May 3rd, the Red River Valley Fair special on Sunday, July 14th featuring the Buffalo Wild Wings Northern Outlaw Sprint Cars and season championship night on August 30th. More special events are expected to be added as the season gets closers. A total of 17 race nights are on the schedule thus far.

Previous World of Outlaws A-Feature Winners:

2018 – Donny Schatz on August 18
2017 – Jason Johnson on August 19
2012 – Sammy Swindell on June 16
2008 – Daryn Pittman on August 12
2007 – Jac Haudenschild on June 30
2006 – Donny Schatz on June 17
2005 – Jason Meyers on July 2, Steve Kinser on Aug. 16
2004 – Joey Saldana on July 10
2003 – Danny Lasoski on June 14
2002 – Donny Schatz on July 6
2001 – Craig Dollansky on July 7
2000 – Sammy Swindell on July 8
1999 – Steve Kinser on July 10
1998 – Sammy Swindell on July 11
1997 – Stevie Smith on July 12
1996 – Sammy Swindell on July 7
1995 – Sammy Swindell on July 8
1994 – Steve Kinser on July 10
1993 – Johnny Herrera on July 10
1992 – Steve Kinser on July 12
1991 – Doug Wolfgang on July 6
1990 – Doug Wolfgang on July 7
1989 – Jeff Swindell on July 8
1988 – Doug Wolfgang on July 9
1987 – Steve Kinser on July 11
1986 – Steve Kinser on July 12
1985 – Steve Kinser on July 13
1984 – Steve Kinser on July 14
1983 – Sammy Swindell on July 9
1982 – Steve Kinser on July 14
1981 – Sammy Swindell on July 13

March 31 | Red River Valley Speedway Night @ Fargo Force Game

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Mark your calendars for March 31st because it’s Red River Valley Speedway Night at the Fargo Force game! Puck drops at 7:05 pm at the Scheels Arena. Click HERE to purchase game tickets for that night. We’ll be giving out RRVS promotional items for the first 1,000 fans in attendance. Plus we’ll have race cars on display throughout the building.

Fargo Force game night details:

Lincoln Stars vs Fargo Force

Post-game Skate with the Force for 30 minutes. Bring your skates to Scheels Arena to skate with the team following the game! Skates must be left in your car until the end of the game or kept at your seats in a bag (with skate guards on). A PA announcement will be made in the third period on where to go after the game to put on your skates.

World of Outlaws to return to Red River Valley Speedway in 2018

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The World of Outlaws in their famous four-wide salute to the fans before the 2017 main event at Red River Valley Speedway (Photo by Speedway Shots)

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.

Shane Stewart of Bixby, Okla. broke the RRVS track record with a lap of 11.925 seconds, averaging 113.208mph. (Photo by Speedway Shots)

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.

World of Outlaws visit Red River Valley Speedway again in 2018 on August 18 for the Duel in the Dakotas

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(Ken Simon Photo)

WEST FARGO, N.D. — November 18, 2017 — The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series will return to Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, North Dakota for the second consecutive year on Saturday, August 18, 2018, for the “Duel in the Dakotas.” The event will mark the 32nd A-Feature event contested by the series at the three-eighths-mile, dating back to 1981. A total of 14 drivers have picked up A-Feature wins in the series at the track during that span.

Jason Johnson scored his first win at Red River Valley Speedway this past season in his debut at the track. The 2016 winner of the Knoxville Nationals held off a hard-charging Kerry Madsen and Donny Schatz for the win.

Schatz, who calls Fargo home, has won four times at Red River Valley Speedway, including winning both nights of the 2006 “Duel in the Dakotas.” Schatz has won at least once at every track in his home state of North Dakota that the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series has competed it. He raced with the Outlaws for the first time at Red River Valley Speedway as a teenager in 1993, finishing 15th.

The 2017 campaign was another historic one for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series as 20 drivers picked up wins. Leading the way was Schatz, who scored his ninth series championship and became the first driver in series history to win 20 or more A-Feature events in five consecutive seasons. David Gravel had a career-year, earning 18 A-Feature wins, which was second only to Schatz. The 25-year-old finished third in points for the second consecutive year.

Brad Sweet was nearly as consistent as Schatz, picking up 72 top-10 finishes just two less than the champion, with 56 of those being top-fives. Sweet visited victory lane five times in 2017 en route to finishing second in points. Pittman ended up fourth in the standings while picking up three wins, with Shane Stewart, who reached victory lane eight times, rounding out the top-five in points.

Jason Johnson, who won four races finished sixth in points, followed by Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner Sheldon Haudenschild in seventh. Kraig Kinser, who had a win was eighth, with Logan Schuchart, who earned a career-high four victories, in ninth and rookie Brent Marks rounded out the top-10.

Ticket information for the 2018 “Duel in the Dakotas,” featuring the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D., on Saturday, August 18, 2018 will be available soon at www.slspromotions.com.

Twitter: @SLS_Promotions

Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC

Rodin Dominates Sanders Mod Tour for First Career Win

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Photo: L to R: Race winner, Lucas Rodin, stands in victory lane with the Todd Sanders Family, along with 2nd place finisher, Austin Arneson. Courtesy of Steven Olson.

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO, N.D. (August 18, 2017) – A stout field of 40 IMCA Modifeds were checked in Friday for night two of the Sanders Modified Challenge Tour at Red River Valley Speedway. In a dominating performance, Lucas Rodin captured the checkered flag for his first career Modified win at the semi-banked three-eighths mile dirt oval.

“I just had to hold it to the floor pretty much the whole way around just to get the car to turn,” said Rodin in KRJB/KRJM Victory Lane. “I tried to stay around the bottom and avoid as many holes as I could and it worked out for us.”

Rodin grabbed the lead on lap one from the third starting position as Dale Kraling, Dave Shipley and Trent Grager battled for second.

Rodin steadily distanced himself from the field as the race advanced and was able to efficiently slice his way through heavy lapped traffic.

The only thing that could slow Rodin was the caution flag, which flew with five laps remaining. Kraling and Shipley, both of which have feature wins at RRVS in 2017, lined up on the rear bumper of Rodin for the ensuing restart.

As the race resumed, 13th place starter, Austin Arneson was the man on the move as he worked his way from fifth to second. Arneson had five car lengths between himself and Rodin with two to go, but he was never able to reel him in.

Rodin drove two flawless circuits as he cruised to the win over Arneson, Kraling, Shipley, and Troy Heupel.

“I just threw it in on the bottom and it seemed like it would hit a hole and help the car turn. It’ll be nice to go back to Jamestown tomorrow,” said Rodin, referring to the third stop on the Sanders Mod Tour, which is his hometrack. “There’s a lot of competition on this tour. We’ll just check the car over and get it ready for Saturday.”

Arneson took over the Sanders Mod Tour point lead with his second place finish.

Jesse Skalicky collected his second IMCA SportMod win of the weekend after taking the checkers Thursday night at Norman County Raceway. The Fargo, N.D. driver started fifth on the grid before taking the lead and the win.

Fifteen-year-old Tim Estenson recorded his 17th INEX Legends win of the season. Estenson started way back in 11th, but methodically charged his way through the field. In the closing laps, Estenson had to hold off 12th place starter, Troy Hoff, en route to the victory.

Bismarck’s Eric Harpole started on the pole and picked up the IMCA Stock Car feature win. Harpole beat Rick Schulz, Tim Compson, Rob VanMil, and Aaron Olson to the M&J Auto Parts checkered flag.

RESULTS:

All Finish Concrete IMCA Modifieds

Sander’s Metal Products A Feature 1: 1. 19-Lucas Rodin, [3]; 2. 10-Austin Arneson, [13]; 3. 7-Dale Kraling, [1]; 4. 72-Dave Shipley, [7]; 5. 4T-Troy Heupel, [4]; 6. 4D-Rob VanMil, [9]; 7. 84-Michael Johnson, [11]; 8. 4500-Cody Peterson, [17]; 9. 1TPO-Tyler Peterson, [19]; 10. 5T-Marcus Tomlinson, [20]; 11. 2-Josh Eberhardt, [18]; 12. 71-Trent Grager, [2]; 13. 43-Lance Schilling, [16]; 14. 22B-Josh Beaulieu, [21]; 15. 69-Justin Jones, [24]; 16. 43L-Luke Schilling, [23]; 17. 17-Rich Pavlicek, [6]; 18. (DNF) 99-Cale Arneson, [8]; 19. (DNF) 38-Tailin Tommerdahl, [22]; 20. (DNF) 12-Greg Friestad, [14]; 21. (DNF) 7B-Bryce Bjerken, [15]; 22. (DNF) 86C-Darren Pfau, [12]; 23. (DNF) 21M-Dev Malmlov, [10]; 24. (DNF) 17G-Michael Greseth, [5]

Sander’s Metal Products B Feature 1: 1. 84-Michael Johnson, [2]; 2. 10-Austin Arneson, [3]; 3. 7B-Bryce Bjerken, [1]; 4. 4500-Cody Peterson, [7]; 5. 1TPO-Tyler Peterson, [8]; 6. 43L-Luke Schilling, [13]; 7. 22B-Josh Beaulieu, [10]; 8. 87H-Brad Hartigan, [5]; 9. 43C-Craig Larson, [15]; 10. 18-Randy Gordon, [12]; 11. (DNF) 21S-Terry Sahr, [14]; 12. (DNF) 60-Tyler Hall, [4]; 13. (DNF) 119-Chad Bush, [11]; 14. (DNF) 442-Aaron Johnson, [9]; (DQ) 191-Bryce Bjerke, [6]

Sander’s Metal Products B Feature 2: 1. 86C-Darren Pfau, [11]; 2. 12-Greg Friestad, [7]; 3. 43-Lance Schilling, [2]; 4. 2-Josh Eberhardt, [10]; 5. 5T-Marcus Tomlinson, [6]; 6. 38-Tailin Tommerdahl, [1]; 7. 69-Justin Jones, [8]; 8. 17X-Tommy Lee, [4]; 9. 52-Brennan Borg, [3]; 10. 15T-Myles Tomlinson, [5]; 11. 27-Jerry Lamb, [12]; 12. 24X-Tom Silver, [9]; 13. 179-Andrew Mack, [15]; 14. (DNF) 12C-Nickolis Curtis, [13]; 15. (DNF) 4V-Billy Vogel, [14]

Sander’s Metal Products Heat 1: 1. 4T-Troy Heupel, [2]; 2. 4D-Rob VanMil, [4]; 3. 7B-Bryce Bjerken, [3]; 4. 52-Brennan Borg, [8]; 5. 191-Bryce Bjerke, [5]; 6. 69-Justin Jones, [6]; 7. 119-Chad Bush, [7]; 8. (DNF) 12C-Nickolis Curtis, [1]

Sander’s Metal Products Heat 2: 1. 19-Lucas Rodin, [1]; 2. 17G-Michael Greseth, [5]; 3. 38-Tailin Tommerdahl, [3]; 4. 60-Tyler Hall, [7]; 5. 5T-Marcus Tomlinson, [6]; 6. 442-Aaron Johnson, [8]; 7. 86C-Darren Pfau, [4]; 8. 21S-Terry Sahr, [2]

Sander’s Metal Products Heat 3: 1. 71-Trent Grager, [4]; 2. 21M-Dev Malmlov, [5]; 3. 84-Michael Johnson, [6]; 4. 17X-Tommy Lee, [1]; 5. 4500-Cody Peterson, [2]; 6. 24X-Tom Silver, [3]; 7. 18-Randy Gordon, [8]; 8. (DNF) 4V-Billy Vogel, [7]

Sander’s Metal Products Heat 4: 1. 99-Cale Arneson, [3]; 2. 72-Dave Shipley, [1]; 3. 43-Lance Schilling, [2]; 4. 87H-Brad Hartigan, [6]; 5. 12-Greg Friestad, [8]; 6. 22B-Josh Beaulieu, [7]; 7. 27-Jerry Lamb, [4]; 8. (DNF) 43C-Craig Larson, [5]

Sander’s Metal Products Heat 5: 1. 17-Rich Pavlicek, [2]; 2. 7-Dale Kraling, [3]; 3. 10-Austin Arneson, [4]; 4. 15T-Myles Tomlinson, [1]; 5. 1TPO-Tyler Peterson, [8]; 6. 2-Josh Eberhardt, [5]; 7. 43L-Luke Schilling, [6]; 8. 179-Andrew Mack, [7]

Eide Bailly Sport Mod

A Feature 1: 1. 3S-Jesse Skalicky, [5]; 2. 44D-Chris VanMil, [3]; 3. 3W-Aaron Wetterlin, [11]; 4. 76-Reile Sailer, [10]; 5. 68-Dan Evert, [13]; 6. 12T-Brandon Tendeland, [14]; 7. 51-Kelly Jacobson, [2]; 8. 6-Austin Veralrud, [8]; 9. 55-Kenneth Bye, [9]; 10. 47-Kreig Kasin, [17]; 11. 22-Vince Jegtvig, [12]; 12. 15-Matthew Clark, [16]; 13. (DNF) E-6-Kevin Veraldrud, [1]; 14. (DNF) 3X-Andy Wagner, [7]; 15. (DNF) 13C-Paul Colvin, [15]; (DQ) 8-Billy Michaelsohn, [6]; (DQ) 5T-Matt Talley, [4]

Heat 1: 1. 8-Billy Michaelsohn, [1]; 2. 3X-Andy Wagner, [5]; 3. 6-Austin Veralrud, [2]; 4. E-6-Kevin Veraldrud, [6]; 5. 68-Dan Evert, [3]; 6. 15-Matthew Clark, [4]

Heat 2: 1. 3S-Jesse Skalicky, [2]; 2. 76-Reile Sailer, [1]; 3. 44D-Chris VanMil, [5]; 4. 5T-Matt Talley, [3]; 5. 12T-Brandon Tendeland, [6]; 6. 47-Kreig Kasin, [4]

Heat 3: 1. 3W-Aaron Wetterlin, [3]; 2. 51-Kelly Jacobson, [1]; 3. 22-Vince Jegtvig, [5]; 4. 55-Kenneth Bye, [2]; 5. 13C-Paul Colvin, [4]

Petermann Seeds INEX Legends

A Feature 1: 1. 14T-Tim Estenson, [11]; 2. 86-Troy Hoff, [12]; 3. 18-Joshua Julsrud, [4]; 4. 21-Andrew Jochim, [5]; 5. 6-Chad Sogge, [1]; 6. 5D8-Dylan Johnson, [10]; 7. 79-Scott Richardson, [6]; 8. 5-Dean Julsrud, [2]; 9. 69-Brian Hanson, [9]; 10. 15-Mariah Henriksen, [20]; 11. 20-Alex Braseth, [13]; 12. D1RT-Tony Brockhouse, [14]; 13. 7-Cade Sogge, [15]; 14. 29-Brandon Erickson, [17]; 15. 24-Shaun Erickson, [21]; 16. H20-Darrell Buckingham, [19]; 17. (DNF) B1-Brody Carlsrud, [16]; 18. (DNF) 72-Tye Wilke, [7]; 19. (DNF) 28-Casey Henriksen, [8]; 20. (DNF) 29B-Ryan Braseth, [18]; 21. (DNF) 8JR-Kaitlyn Skalicky, [3]

Heat 1: 1. 86-Troy Hoff, [4]; 2. 5D8-Dylan Johnson, [2]; 3. 79-Scott Richardson, [1]; 4. 8JR-Kaitlyn Skalicky, [3]; 5. 20-Alex Braseth, [5]; 6. B1-Brody Carlsrud, [7]; 7. (DNF) H20-Darrell Buckingham, [6]

Heat 2: 1. 6-Chad Sogge, [1]; 2. 21-Andrew Jochim, [6]; 3. 28-Casey Henriksen, [2]; 4. 72-Tye Wilke, [3]; 5. D1RT-Tony Brockhouse, [7]; 6. 29-Brandon Erickson, [4]; 7. 15-Mariah Henriksen, [5]

Heat 3: 1. 14T-Tim Estenson, [6]; 2. 18-Joshua Julsrud, [7]; 3. 5-Dean Julsrud, [4]; 4. 69-Brian Hanson, [3]; 5. 7-Cade Sogge, [2]; 6. 29B-Ryan Braseth, [1]; 7. 24-Shaun Erickson, [5]

The Audio Garage Stock Cars

A Feature 1: 1. 87-Eric Harpole, [1]; 2. 4-Rick Schulz, [7]; 3. 49-Tim Compson, [4]; 4. 40-Rob VanMil, [3]; 5. 14-Aaron Olson, [8]; 6. 76Z-John Sandvig, [2]; 7. 21-Duffy Froemke, [9]; 8. 72-Adam Geist, [5]; 9. 85-Ernest Geist, [10]; 10. (DNF) 82-MIke Anderson, [6]

Heat 1: 1. 49-Tim Compson, [3]; 2. 87-Eric Harpole, [5]; 3. 14-Aaron Olson, [2]; 4. 76Z-John Sandvig, [4]; 5. (DNF) 85-Ernest Geist, [1]

Heat 2: 1. 4-Rick Schulz, [2]; 2. 40-Rob VanMil, [1]; 3. 21-Duffy Froemke, [4]; 4. 82-MIke Anderson, [3]; 5. 72-Adam Geist, [5]

A long awaited return: World of Outlaws Sprint Cars invade Red River Valley Speedway on Saturday

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Donny Schatz will look for his fifth career World of Outlaws win at Red River Valley Speedway on Saturday (Photo Courtesy: Speedway Shots)

By Mike Spieker

WEST FARGO – Another chapter will be written in the Red River Valley Speedway (RRVS) history books Saturday night as the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Cars make their highly anticipated return to West Fargo. The event, which was originally scheduled for June 17th, but was postponed due to rain, will mark the 31st appearance by the 900+ horsepower winged sprint cars at RRVS.

Leading the way is eight-time and defending World of Outlaws champion and Fargo’s own, Donny Schatz.

Schatz is riding a wave of momentum this weekend after capturing his 10th Knoxville Nationals title at the famed Knoxville (IA) Raceway last Saturday night.

“The Knoxville Nationals are something you look forward to at the beginning of the year. You’re excited about it whether you have or haven’t won it before. It’s what makes or breaks your year. We were able to put ourselves in a position to win it again this year and it means the world to everybody on the team,” said Schatz, who had to fend off NASCAR star Kyle Larson on the final lap to claim the $150,000 victory.

“We’re still enjoying (the win), but we are also looking forward to this weekend. With the Outlaws running in Grand Forks, Fargo, and Minot, it’s going to kind of be a dream weekend for me,” he said.

Despite living in Minot in his younger days, Schatz still competed weekly at RRVS in the early 1990s and considered the West Fargo clay oval a home track. Schatz quickly saw success in the WISSOTA 360 sprint car division and became a fan favorite in Fargo before he moved up to World of Outlaws ranks in 1997.

“It’s always special to come back and race at Red River Valley Speedway. You know a majority of the people you’re going to see,” Schatz said. “The track is just minutes away from where I live and most of my family is from around here. There is just something about being able to sleep in your own bed the same night you race at your home track.”

The World of Outlaws have made just one visit to RRVS since the track was reconfigured from a half-mile to a three-eighths mile track in 2010. Since then, Schatz has gotten laps on the smaller racing surface with the All Star Circuit of Champion sprint cars and the NLRA Late Models. Despite all of that on-track experience over the last handful of years, Schatz says the key to being fast is relying on setups that have been working as of late, even if they are for different tracks.

“You have to stick with your basics and parameters you’ve set and know that work at all of the different places,” he said. “The team changes little things from place to place to account for the different dirt and speeds that you go. For the most part, you start with a pretty basic setup and try to work from there.”

This weekend’s three-race trek through North Dakota is just a small drop in the bucket in comparison to the complete 94-race schedule the World of Outlaws are enduring this season. In his quest for his ninth series championship, Schatz is in good shape thus far with an 82 point lead atop the point standings with 27 races remaining.

“We’re going to have to stay after it to get the championship this year. There’s never too much of a buffer when you’re leading the points,” he said. “At the same point, we don’t really race for points, we race to win each night. As the season winds down, everything becomes more important and you don’t want to make any mistakes. There’s more pressure on me and the race team and we are all up for it. Hopefully, we can be in a position a couple months from now we’re looking at championship number nine. But if not, it’s not going to go without a hard fought fight.”

The Outlaws’ latest threat:

Twenty-five year old Watertown, Conn. driver, David Gravel, has been the most impressive up-and-comer the World of Outlaws have seen in its youth movement over the last couple of years. Gravel is having a breakout season in 2017, compiling 13 victories to date, which is second-most on the Outlaw tour to Schatz.

Gravel also turned heads last weekend at the Knoxville Nationals by completing a “perfect night” on his qualifying night. Gravel was the fastest driver in time trials and won both his heat race and the feature to earn the pole for Saturday night’s championship feature. In doing so, Gravel became the first driver since Steve Kinser in 1992 to accomplish that feat at Knoxville.

“We were the best car all week,” said Gravel. “On our qualifying night, I was worried about getting a good pill draw for time trials and transferring through my heat race. Thankfully, we were able to do that all with flying colors.”

After preliminary action was complete, Gravel was a favorite entering championship night on Saturday. In the first half of the race, Gravel lived up to the expectations as he led the first 22 circuits. However, a mechanical failure forced him to retire from the event early, dashing his hopes of taking the Knoxville title.

Gravel will look to rebound this weekend in North Dakota.

After winning at River Cities Speedway in June, Gravel will look to pick up the season sweep at the Grand Forks three-tenths mile clay oval in his CJB Motorsports No. 5.

“If we can win again at River Cities, that would be great,” continued Gravel. “That’s been Schatz’s track over the years, but we still have a shot at (the championship) this season so we are going to try to kick him off his block and win a bunch more races.”

In his three previous starts at Red River Valley Speedway, Gravel has a best finish of third, which came in 2011 with the All Star Circuit of Champions. Like many other drivers in the World of Outlaws field, Gravel hasn’t seen RRVS for several years. He says he looks forward to Saturday because it will be a new track for almost all of the drivers and no one will have a distinct advantage.

“It’s good to go to tracks that people haven’t been to in awhile. It equals the playing field a bit,” he said. “I’m looking forward to going somewhere new and fresh. We should have a good crowd just like we do in Grand Forks and hopefully, we can have a good night.”

Tickets for Saturday’s “Duel in the Dakotas” event, featuring World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series at RRVS can be purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by phone at 815-344-2023.

Considered the best duo in sprint car racing, Donny Schatz (left) stands next to his crew chief, Ricky Warner (right).

Fans can also save $5 on General Admission tickets when purchased at participating NAPA Auto Parts stores. Tickets buyers will exchange their NAPA receipt for a race ticket at the Main Grandstand ticket booth on race day.

Plenty of Laps: Jac Haudenschild returns to Red River Valley Speedway

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(Kelly Brown Photo)

WEST FARGO, N.D. — August 16, 2017 — Jac Haudenschild has raced in more World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series main events at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D., than any other driver who is expected to compete with the series at the track this weekend. The Ohio native circled the track for the first time with the Outlaws back in 1986 and has made 38 starts with the series at Red River Valley Speedway in the years following. Haudenschild has a pair of wins in his Hall of Fame career at the track, including in his most recent visit to the now three-eighths-mile in 2012. That victory came with the Arctic Car All Star Circuit of Champions.

Haudenschild returns to Red River Valley Speedway this weekend with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series for the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas on Saturday, August 19. The event was originally scheduled for June 17 and postponed by inclement weather. All tickets and pit pass armbands from the originally scheduled date will be honored on Saturday.

“We haven’t been there and seen the track in a few years, so we’ll take a look at it when we get there and see how that compares to what I remember from there in the past,” said Haudenschild. “We are with a good team and in a good race car, so we should be able to adapt when we get there and hopefully have a good run.”

In his last three starts with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Red River Valley Speedway, Haudenschild has finished on the podium in each and every one. Over the years, the native of Wooster, Ohio has racked up 27 top-10 finishes at the track, the most of any active driver with the series, with 17 of those being top-five performances.

“We enjoy going to the high banked tracks, so Fargo should be a good one for us,” Haudenschild said. “Those are types of tracks where you have to keep your speed and momentum up and that seems to fit my driving style.”

The Hall of Famer pilots the No. 17 machine for the Stenhouse Jr. Wood Racing team, which is in their first full season on the road with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series. Haudenschild climbed behind the wheel for the team near the end of June. In his second start with the team, he suffered a concussion, which kept him out of action for three races. The veteran driver picked up his best finish with the team recently on the opening night of the Ironman 55 weekend at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Missouri, coming home eighth.

The team scored their first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series win back on June 13, when Kyle Larson won a thriller at Eagle Raceway in Nebraska, driving the team’s back-up car, as a “test session.”

“It’s good to work with a new team,” Haudenschild noted. “We’re all working hard and learning and things seems to be going pretty good. We’ve only been in the car for a little over a month, so everything is still coming together. We’ll just keep at it and hopefully we can keep getting faster and have solid runs.”

Haudenschild is paired with veteran crew chief Tyler Swank, who joined the Stenhouse Jr. Wood Racing team prior to this season. Like Haudenschild, Swank has been on the road for a large portion of his career and has a big notebook to draw from, when it comes to tracks the Outlaws race at.

“The biggest thing with a new team is working with the mechanic and getting the car as close as you can,” Haudenschild explained. “Everyone is so fast out here and has been working on things for half the season, so we are trying to get up to speed as quick as we can. Things seems to be going in the right direction.”

Being back on the road with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series has afforded Haudenschild the opportunity to race with and against his son, Sheldon, night in and night out. The younger Haudenschild is in the midst of his rookie season with the Outlaws and has been very impressive, recording 25 top-10 finishes to date, with nine of those being top-five runs. S. Haudenschild has also led a number of laps as he closes in on his first-career Outlaws win. The elder Haudenschild has 56 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series wins in his illustrious career, which is 13th on the series all-time win list.

“It’s been a lot of fun getting to race against Sheldon out here,” said J. Haudenschild. “He’s been fast and having a good season. Hopefully we can get up front and run with him, since that’s where he’s been running most of this season.”

Tickets for the “Duel in the Dakotas,” featuring World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, North Dakota, on Saturday, June 17 can be purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by phone at 815-344-2023.

Fans can also save $5 on General Admission tickets when purchased at participating NAPA Auto Parts stores. Tickets buyers will exchange their NAPA receipt for a race ticket at the Main Grandstand ticket booth on race day.

All tickets and pit pass armbands from the originally scheduled race on June 17 will be honored on Saturday, August 19.

Twitter: @SLS_Promotions
Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC

(Kelly Brown Photo)

By the Numbers: Duel in the Dakotas for the World of Outlaws at Red River Valley Speedway

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(Ken Simon Photo)

WEST FARGO, N.D. — August 14, 2017 — Red River Valley Speedway is set to host the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series on Saturday, August 19. The event was originally scheduled for June 17, but postponed due to inclement weather. All tickets and pit pass armbands from that date will be honored. The Duel in the Dakotas will mark the Outlaws first visit to the track since 2012, when Hall of Famer Sammy Swindell was victorious. Donny Schatz, who calls Fargo home, is the winningest active driver with the series at the track. He has won with both the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series and Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions at the track. This edition of By the Numbers sets the stage for the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas at Red River Valley Speedway on Saturday, August 19.

 

By the Numbers: Red River Valley Speedway

0.375- Miles around Red River Valley Speedway

0.5- Miles around the original configuration of the track

2- Drivers competing for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this season with the Outlaws: Sheldon Haudenschild and Brent Marks

4- Total nights of racing in the state of North Dakota for the World of Outlaws this season

12.045- Track record established by Paul McMahan in 2012

13- Drivers who have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws at Red River Valley Speedway over the years

14- Drivers who have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws this season through August 12

16- Wins for Donny Schatz through August 12 to lead the series; Teams that are following the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series tour full-time this season; A-Feature wins for Donny Schatz in his home state of North Dakota in his Outlaws career

27- Top-10 finishes with the Outlaws for Jac Haudenschild at Red River Valley Speedway, the most of any driver expected to compete

30- Different seasons in which the World of Outlaws have raced at Red River Valley Speedway, dating back to 1981

37- Main event starts (including preliminary features) with the Outlaws for Donny Schatz at his home track, dating back to 1993

38- Main event starts (including preliminary features) for Jac Haudenschild with the Outlaws at the track, dating back to 1986 the most of any driver expected to race on August 19

43- Top-Five finishes for Donny Schatz this season through August 12 to lead the series

50-Top-10 finishes for Brad Sweet this year through August 12 to lead the series

79- Miles from River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, where the World of Outlaws race on August 18 to Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo

10,000 Dollars that the winner will receive on Saturday, August 19

1981- Year the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series first raced at Red River Valley Speedway

2006- Year of Donny Schatz’s most recent World of Outlaws win at Red River Valley Speedway

2011- Year that Schatz most recently won at the track, with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions

2012- Year the Outlaws last raced at the track

 

Tickets for the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas, featuring the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, along with the INEX Legends at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, North Dakota, on Saturday, August 19 can be purchased online atslspromotions.ticketforce.com or by phone at 815-344-2023, as well as at the track on race day.

Fans can also save $5 on General Admission tickets when purchased at participating NAPA Auto Parts stores. Tickets buyers will exchange their NAPA receipt for a race ticket at the Main Grandstand ticket booth on race day.

Twitter: @SLS_Promotions
Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC

Donny Schatz returns to North Dakota for three-race weekend, after 10th Knoxville Nationals win

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(Frank Smith Photo)

KNOXVILLE, IA — August 13, 2017 — On the heels of winning his 10th Knoxville Nationals in the last 12 years on Saturday, August 12, Donny Schatz will return to his home state of North Dakota this week for a three-race weekend with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series in Grand Forks, West Fargo and Minot. Schatz pocketed $150,000 for winning sprint car racing’s biggest event at the famed half-mile Knoxville Raceway in Iowa.

In the 57th Annual 5-Hour Energy Knoxville Nationals, Schatz took the lead on the 22nd lap of the 50-lap contest, when pole sitter and early leader David Gravel had engine trouble. Schatz then held off a furious charge by Kerry Madsen on the ensuing restart and NASCAR star Kyle Larson in the late-going to pick up the win. Larson tried a slide job in turns three and four on the final lap, but came up just short.

Schatz has now finished first or second in 16 of the last 18 editions of the Knoxville Nationals. The 10 wins in the Knoxville Nationals are second only to 20-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion Steve Kinser, who won the event a record-12 times.

“It’s been a hell of a streak,” said Schatz. “All the second places I had before I finally won changed the whole dynamic and view of this place for me. I’m fortunate enough to be able to work with the same people for such a long amount of time. I knew I needed to push the issue. It got pretty hairy a couple of times. The race track had a pretty tricky lip.”

Schatz is the current World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series point leader as he chases his ninth title. He leads the series with 16 wins this season and also tops the leaderboard in top-five finishes. He is multi-time winner at all three tracks the series is heading to in his home state this coming weekend.

The triple-header weekend for Schatz begins on Friday, August 18 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks as American Tire Service Inc. Presents the 2nd Leg of the Northern Tour. The Outlaws then head south to Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo on Saturday, August 19 for the Gerdau Recycling Duel in the Dakotas. The weekend wraps up on Sunday, August 20 at Nodak Speedway in Minot with the Gerdau Recycling Magic City Showdown Presented by Schatz Crossroads Truck Stop and Fastlane Carwash.

Tickets for all three events can be purchased online at https://slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by phone at 815-344-2023 and at the respective tracks on race day.

For the events at Red River Valley Speedway and Nodak Speedway, discount general admission are available for purchase at participating NAPA Auto Parts stores. Each General Admission ticket purchased at a NAPA Auto Parts location will feature a special $5 discount. Tickets buyers will exchange their NAPA receipt for tickets at the Main Grandstand ticket booth on race day.

Twitter: @SLS_Promotions
Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC

Double Header: Sanders Mod Tour/World of Outlaws – August 18th & 19th

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Friday, August 18th Sponsors: Sanders Metal Products, Cass Clay

***The band “Kissing Company” will play LIVE in the pits after the races!***

Racing divisions this week:
All Finish Concrete IMCA Modifieds
The Audio Garage IMCA Stock Cars
Eide Bailly IMCA Sport Mods
Petermann Seeds INEX Legends
*NO HOBBY STOCKS*

Times:
Pit Gates Open: 4:30pm
Grandstands Open: 5:30pm
Draw Cutoff: 6:30pm
Racing Starts: 7:00pm

Grandstand Admission:
Adults: $13
Ages 6 – 12: $5
5 & Under: FREE

Buy discounted tickets online:

Advanced discounted ticket location:
Performance Auto – 3401 1/2 Interstate Blvd – Fargo, ND

Buy World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series “Duel in the Dakotas” tickets:

We’ll have:
– The HotSpring Spas & Pool Tables Duck Toss
– The Nugget Vending Candy Toss
– The Fast Lane Car Wash T-shirt cannon
– 50/50 Tickets
– Red River Valley Speedway apparel
– Delicious concession food & ice-cold beverages

Listen LIVE:
Can’t make it to the race? Tune-in to 106.5 KRJB for LIVE racing coverage. You can also listen online at: www.rjbroadcasting.com
Pre-race coverage begins at 6:45pm.

Social Media:
Website – redrivervalleyspeedway.com
Facebook – facebook.com/redrivervalleyspeedway
Twitter – twitter.com/rrvspeedway
Instagram – instagram.com/redrivervalleyspeedway
Snapchat – snapchat.com/add/rrvspeedway
Youtube – http://tiny.cc/RRVS

Text Alerts:
Text the keyword “Stagger” to 84483

Red River Valley Speedway:
1805 Main Avenue West – West Fargo, ND

Lodging:
La Quinta Inn & Suites
2355 46th St South
Fargo, ND 58104
Call: 1-701-499-2000

Buy World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series “Duel in the Dakotas” tickets:

Racing divisions this week:
World Of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Petermann Seeds INEX Legends

Times:
Pit Gates Open: 2:00pm
Grandstands Open: 4:00pm
Hot Laps: 6:30pm
Racing Starts: 7:30pm

Social Media:
Website – redrivervalleyspeedway.com
Facebook – facebook.com/redrivervalleyspeedway
Twitter – twitter.com/rrvspeedway
Instagram – instagram.com/redrivervalleyspeedway
Snapchat – snapchat.com/add/rrvspeedway
Youtube – http://tiny.cc/RRVS

Text Alerts:
Text the keyword “Stagger” to 84483

Red River Valley Speedway:
1805 Main Avenue West – West Fargo, ND

Lodging:
La Quinta Inn & Suites
2355 46th St South
Fargo, ND 58104
Call: 1-701-499-2000

Camping:
Call Bryan at the Red River Valley Fair Office: 701-282-2200