By Jim Foose – Speedway Action Magazine
A Razor-Thin Championship Battle Collides with a Hungry Pack of Local Racers Aiming for the Upset
The rumble of 900-horsepower, 1,400-pound winged warriors. The unmistakable, eye-watering scent of methanol in the spring air. The absolute thrill of the slide job.
Get ready, race fans: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is blasting through Ohio this weekend, and it promises to be nothing short of a dirt-flying spectacle. The two-night swing kicks off on Friday, May 1st, at the tight confines of Attica Raceway Park, before the haulers roll east to Sharon Speedway for a Saturday, May 2nd showdown. With the 2026 season already proving to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the traveling stars—or the locals ready to defend their turf.
The Championship Heavyweights
Right now, the battle for the WoO championship is an absolute dogfight. Reigning 2025 champion David Gravel has been bringing the heat in the Big Game Motorsports #2, consistently finding his way to the front and racking up early-season wins. But he isn’t running away with it.
Buddy Kofoid has been a dominant force, peeling off victories and proving he’s a legitimate title threat in his sophomore Outlaw campaign. Add in the relentless consistency of Carson Macedo, the rising power of fellow WoO regular Cole Macedo, the veteran prowess of ten-time champ Donny Schatz, and the aggressive driving style of Logan Schuchart, and you have a points battle that changes with every drop of the checkered flag.
Every qualifying lap, every heat race transfer, and every A-Main position matters. One slip over the cushion at Attica, or a missed setup at Sharon, could completely shuffle the deck for the Outlaws.
The Ohio Defenders: Upset Alert
While the Outlaw regulars travel the country, Ohio’s local sprint car scene is a breed of its own. The Buckeye State is home to some of the most fiercely competitive regional racing in the world. When the Outlaws come to town, the locals don’t just show up to participate—they show up to steal the big check.
“There is nothing harder in dirt racing than rolling into an Ohio track and trying to beat the locals on their home turf.”
The Threats to the Outlaws:
- The Home-State Hero: WoO regular and Ohio native Sheldon Haudenschild might travel with the national tour, but racing in front of a home crowd always brings out an extra edge in the #17 machine. He’ll be hunting for a hometown triumph to ignite the grandstands.
- The Local Legend’s Playground: Saturday’s battle takes place at Sharon Speedway. Sprint car icon and local legend Dale Blaney knows every rut and slick spot of the Hartford oval, and the regional drivers who cut their teeth watching “The Low Rider” always look to protect their home dirt.
- The Regional Heavy-Hitters: Drivers like Cap Henry, Bryce Lucius, and a deep bench of local competitors race these Ohio bullrings week-in and week-out. They know exactly how the dirt transitions as the sun goes down, giving them a massive advantage when it comes to setup and line choice.
What to Expect This Weekend
Attica Raceway Park (Friday, May 1st) is known for its high-banked, high-speed action. Here, the cushion often builds right up to the treacherous outside berm. It becomes the fastest—and most unforgiving—way around the track. There’s no outside wall to lean on; if a driver steps over the edge, they’re going straight down the hill. Expect drivers to be flirting with disaster on that razor-thin margin in pursuit of the win.
Sharon Speedway (Saturday, May 2nd) offers a wider, sweeping layout that often results in incredible multi-groove racing. The wide corners invite precision slide jobs and crossover moves, setting the stage for late-race drama.
Whether you’re rooting for the traveling Outlaw stars to tighten their grip on the championship or hoping to see an Ohio local park it in Victory Lane, this weekend is shaping up to be a defining moment in the 2026 season. Grab your earplugs, grab a cold drink, and get to the track—the Greatest Show on Dirt is about to put on a masterclass.
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