LAWTON, Okla. — The wealthy custom of dash automobile racing in Oklahoma will proceed to develop this week.
The World of Outlaws NOS Power Drink Dash Automobile Collection is aimed on the Sooner State for a full weekend of motion.
First up, the tour makes a visit to Lawton Speedway on Friday, March 20. The southern Oklahoma oval was the nineteenth observe to host The Best Present on Grime throughout its inaugural season in 1978. Since then, the sequence has made 10 extra Lawton stops. Friday will make it a dozen.
After Lawton, it’s Tulsa time – form of. Simply to the southwest of the town that’s house to the Chili Bowl Nationals is Sapulpa’s Creek County Speedway. The World of Outlaws has by no means visited “Creekadega,” however that’s set to alter on Saturday, March 21, when Creek County turns into the ninth Oklahoma observe to host the nation’s finest dash automobile drivers.
BACK ON TOP
It didn’t take lengthy for David Gravel to regain management of the highest spot within the standings.
After Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing crew equaled Gravel heading into Kennedale, the Massive Sport Motorsports workforce promptly responded by successful their first race of the 12 months.
That pushed them six factors clear on the prime as they chase a 3rd consecutive championship. Gravel has completed on the rostrum in 5 of the final six races this 12 months.
The Watertown, Conn., native’s expertise on the Oklahoma tracks forward is proscribed. He’s been to Lawton on three events and are available house within the prime 5 every time, peaking at third in 2020 throughout his Jason Johnson Racing days. Like a number of of the present full-time drivers, Gravel will make his Creek County debut on Saturday.
LOVING LAWTON
A few the present rivals on the World of Outlaws tour have discovered their method to victory lane at Lawton and can purpose for a return journey on Friday.
Carson Macedo topped the 2021 journey to Lawton aboard the JJR No. 41. The Lemoore, CA native adopted that with a runner-up a 12 months in the past. He’s off to a stout begin in 2026 with a 3.57 common end via seven races and trails Gravel by simply six markers within the early title chase.
Final 12 months’s go to belonged to Michael “Buddy” Kofoid as he received his first have a look at Lawton. That gave Roth Motorsports wins in two of the final three Lawton races as Daryn Pittman took the No. 83 to victory lane at his house state observe in 2020. Kofoid is in main want of a rebound this weekend after a crash whereas main Kennedale on Friday dropped the championship contender to sixth in factors.
CREEKADEGA
Saturday could be the World of Outlaws debut at Creek County, however a handful of the present band of vacationers had their paths cause them to “Creekadega” up to now.
Scott Bogucki’s days of touring with the ASCS Nationwide Tour introduced him to Creek County on 4 events. The spotlight of these was a fourth-place effort in 2018. The Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Yr offered by 5 Star Our bodies contender will return for the primary time in seven years.
Garet Williamson’s expertise is analogous with ASCS bringing him to Creek County a number of occasions. He raced there as soon as apiece in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and can head again aboard the Fischer Motorsports No. 23.
Ashton Torgerson’s time in Micro Sprints allowed him to rack up Creek County laps. The Glendale, Ariz., native was a 2022 runner-up there in Winged A-class. He additionally drove a Keith Kunz Motorsports midget on the quarter-mile two years in the past, ending fourth. Torgerson presently leads the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Yr offered by 5 Star Our bodies chase.
Emerson Axsom made a pair of POWRi Midget appearances in 2020. The outcome was two prime 10s highlighted by a fifth. Axsom is contemporary off his finest end of the season within the Klaasmeyer/Petry Motorsports No. 27, eighth at Kennedale.
You’ve received to return a bit, however Chris Windom circled Creek County a pair occasions. The Sides Motorsports pilot raced a non-winged dash automobile there in 2007 and 2008. His prime effort was fifth in his debut.
RIGHTING THE SHIP
Hopes have been excessive for Invoice Balog getting into his third season with The Best Present on Grime, however it didn’t fairly begin the way in which he would’ve favored.
The “North Pole Nightmare” struggled via the opening 5 nights at Volusia, solely managing a finest end of twelfth. However for the reason that schedule shifted to some quick tracks, Balog is beginning to resemble what we noticed final 12 months. The No. 17B made the Toyota Sprint and got here house sixth at Talladega.
Balog backed that up by almost successful at Kennedale, arising only a nook quick as David Gravel compelled him to accept second. On the brilliant aspect, it marked his first podium of 2026.
Balog will carry the momentum into Oklahoma this weekend. His Lawton debut a 12 months in the past led to a entrance row beginning spot and seventh-place outcome. He’ll make his first laps at Creek County on Saturday.
ASCS INVASION
Oklahoma is the center of ASCS nation, so most of the nation’s prime 360 drivers are planning so as to add 50 cubic inches between the body rails and battle the most effective of the most effective in acquainted territory.
Six-time and defending ASCS champion leads the cost. The Sunnyvale, Texas, native owns 4 Lawton checkered flags. His win tally at Creek County reaches double digits as he’s received there with ASCS each nationally and regionally and even picked up a 410 rating with POWRi.
Oklahoma’s Matt Covington will proudly signify each ASCS and the house state. He’s received loads of expertise at each tracks, together with a pair of Lawton victories and one at Creek County to go together with 10 extra podiums.
Seth Bergman is initially from the state of Washington, however he’s a “Sooner” today. The 2024 ASCS titlist has been near victory at Lawton, together with a 2012 runner-up. He’s bagged a dozen ASCS Sooner Area trophies at Creek County.
Blake Hahn is probably not presently on tour with ASCS, however he’s a two-time champion and 25-time function winner of the sequence.
Saturday’s race is very significant to Hahn as Creek County is the Sapulpa native’s house observe. His résumé exhibits numerous laps on the bullring and victories in winged dash automobiles, Non-winged dash automobiles and midgets.
Each tracks are anticipated to draw almost 40 entrants with lots extra Midwestern expertise with ASCS ties planning to compete, together with the likes of Brady Bacon, Ryder Laplante, Austyn Gossel, Landon Crawley and extra.
