The Left Turn
By: Ron Burt
Friday, September 26th, was the World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series first visit to Millstream Speedway in Findlay since 1994. It was the Sheldon Haudenschild Buckeye Brawl. 29 car haulers came through the gate. Before the racing started, Carson Macedo set a new track record during qualifying 13.576. Carson Macedo won heat #1, Garet Williamson #2 and Sheldon Haudenschild #3. Michael Kofoid took the checkered flag in the 6 car dash. When the feature started Michael (Buddy) Kofoid was on the pole, the 2024 rookie of the year and outside Kofoid was the 2024 series champion, David Gravel. Kofoid had the early race lead, but Gravel kept Kofoid within his sights to set up a duel between the current top two in World of Outlaws points and the two winningest drivers on the tour this year. Gravel stalked Kofoid in traffic and made the winning move on Lap 9 when Kofoid slipped in traffic. Several cautions lined Kofoid up alongside Gravel for restarts, but Gravel didn’t flinch. He kept Kofoid behind on his way to a $17,000 win. Add this to his Dennis Roth Classic paycheck, and that’s an even $100,000 for his last two days of work. Gravel’s 15th victory of the year equaled his 2024 total, and he’s now three away from reaching his career best mark of 18 in a year. The 118th of his career also moved him within four of tying Danny Lasoski for the sixth most all-time with the World of Outlaw Series. Gravel becomes the sixth different World of Outlaws winner at Millstream. The final spot on the podium went to Logan Schuchart as he kept his recent hot streak rolling aboard the Shark Racing No. 1S. Schuchart now has 15 straight finishes of sixth or better. The Great Lakes Traditional Sprints also competed.
Oakshade Raceway wrapped up its 50th year of racing Saturday night with the return of The Showdown Series pitting Oakshade Dominator Stock Cars vs. Fremont Dirt Trucks. Jake Rendel, the unofficial 2025 Dominator Super Stock track champion, put his car in victory lane in the first of the two series events. Dirt truck racer Keith Sorg started on the pole and took command of the race at the start of the 25-lap feature event. Adam Lantz took the lead from Sorg in a few laps. Laps, with Adrian, Michigan’s Jake Rendel in pursuit. Rendel took advantage of lapped traffic to get by Lantz on lap 16 and survived a couple of late cautions to pick up the $1,000 win. Lantz would retire from the event a few laps after giving up the lead. Keith Sorg finished followed by Jake’s brother Jarrett Rendel, Jeff Foks Jr. and JR Gooden. Craig Dippman failed post-race tech and had his finishing position moved to last. The Showdown Series will wrap up its $2,000 point championship on October 10 at Fremont Speedway (The Track Action Built).
In the final DCR Graphics Late Model Sportsmen feature of the year, Kyle Eckart and Roman Brown put on a show for the lead early in the 20-lap event. Eckart started on the pole and led the first part of the race. Last week’s feature winner, Roman Brown, took the lead away on lap seven, but a caution shortly after would tighten the field back up for a restart. Eckart was able to reclaim the lead briefly after the restart, but Brown, got back around for the lead and pulled away enroute to his fourth feature win of the season. Chis Williams and Dylan Jessen got by Eckart to finish second and third respectively with Eckart hanging on to fourth. Matt Ringger gained five spots from the start to finish fifth despite suffering a broken visor on his helmet during the race.
Megan Elliott earned her first Sport Compact A Main feature win in the final race of the 2025 season at Oakshade. She was able to survive an eventful race which saw a little bit of everything. James Stamper jumped out front at the start after starting on the pole but would later pull off to the infield giving up the race lead. That turned the top spot over to Ken Wells. Wells would spin while leading and Megan Elliott would take over and lead the rest of the way to the checkered flag. Mark Prather finished second followed by Dustin McPheron, Scott Warner and Caleb Wells. Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron out!
