bill balog
Kofoid Runs Down Balog, Banks $100,000
BRANDON, S.D. — Buddy Kofoid continued to make withdrawals from the bank of Huset’s Speedway on Thursday night, earning $100,000 for winning the Huset’s Hustle.Two years ago, Kofoid’s car failed while leading with less than 10 laps remaining in the 2023 BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals. He and the Roth Motorsports team returned to the track last fall and banked $100,000 at the rescheduled High Bank Nationals finale.
Then this week brought the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series back to Huset’s with a pair of six-figure paydays on the line. Kofoid flexed his muscle in Wednesday’s Huset’s Hustle prelim with an eighth to third drive.
That set the stage for Thursday with Kofoid lining up third for the 40-lapper. Polesitter Bill Balog took the early lead and it took only two circuits for Kofoid to drive around Kyle Larson for second.
Kofoid quickly began chasing Balog, but passing him was another story. Kofoid threw several sliders at the No. 17b but couldn’t quite clear him. Finally, a lapped car giving Balog issues gave Kofoid the chance he needed.
The 23-year-old built a big run and slid ahead of Balog to take the top spot. Traffic allowed Balog to close back in late, but it wasn’t enough to find a way around. Kofoid took the checkered flag and added six figures to his bank account.
“I’m out of breath. I don’t know what to say,” said an overwhelmed Kofoid. “Winning a six-figure race once is life changing as far as statistically in the sprint car world. For me, who appreciates the history, it’s cool to do it once let alone twice at pretty much my favorite track. I don’t even know. To be honest, I feel like I haven’t been the best car this weekend until this race just now, and that’s all due to Dylan (Buswell). I’m so lucky to have someone like him in my corner. I’m glad he’s not working with anyone else. I’m glad I don’t have to race against him. Nate and John, they do an outstanding job. They all work together super well, and I’m having the best time of my life.”
The win meant Kofoid has claimed both of Huset’s six-figure paydays since the trouble in 2023, making him the 12th driver in sprint car history with multiple victories worth at least $100,000. It was his fifth World of Outlaws victory and sixth overall win this season.
After leading a majority of the main event, Balog earned #25,000 for second.
“I feel like we’re doing a lot with a little, and I’d like to do a lot with a lot sometimes,” Balog said. “That’s as fast as I can go, so if I can’t win that one, then I don’t know. Congrats to Buddy. I feel like that’s as good as my race car is going to be. We maybe let a little money slip away, but we still had a good finish. Proud to be up here for sure.”
Third place went to Larson after pulling off a last-lap pass of David Gravel.
“I just spent way too long not very good and fell back to like sixth,” Larson said. “It really wasn’t until about eight to go that my car finally took off and we could start going forward. It was just a bummer of a race, was hoping for a caution at some point. I don’t know if it would’ve helped me or hurt me, but I was just hopeful of something.”
David Gravel and Tyler Courtney completed the top five.
The finish:
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 3. 57-Kyle Larson[2]; 4. 2-David Gravel[4]; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[8]; 6. 49-Brad Sweet[6]; 7. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[9]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz[7]; 9. 39M-Anthony Macri[5]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu[16]; 11. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[10]; 12. 41-Carson Macedo[14]; 13. 88T-Tanner Thorson[18]; 14. 14-Spencer Bayston[11]; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[21]; 16. 10-Ryan Timms[20]; 17. 69K-Christopher Bell[17]; 18. 9R-Chase Randall[15]; 19. 3-Tim Kaeding[12]; 20. 6K-Kaleb Johnson[24]; 21. 1A-Ashton Torgerson[19]; 22. 21-Brian Brown[13]; 23. 87-Aaron Reutzel[23]; 24. 55V-Kerry Madsen[22]
BRANDON, S.D. — Buddy Kofoid continued to make withdrawals from the bank of Huset’s Speedway on Thursday night, earning $100,000 for winning the Huset’s Hustle.
Two years ago, Kofoid’s car failed while leading with less than 10 laps remaining in the 2023 BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals. He and the Roth Motorsports team returned to the track last fall and banked $100,000 at the rescheduled High Bank Nationals finale.
Then this week brought the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series back to Huset’s with a pair of six-figure paydays on the line. Kofoid flexed his muscle in Wednesday’s Huset’s Hustle prelim with an eighth to third drive.
That set the stage for Thursday with Kofoid lining up third for the 40-lapper. Polesitter Bill Balog took the early lead and it took only two circuits for Kofoid to drive around Kyle Larson for second.
Kofoid quickly began chasing Balog, but passing him was another story. Kofoid threw several sliders at the No. 17b but couldn’t quite clear him. Finally, a lapped car giving Balog issues gave Kofoid the chance he needed.
The 23-year-old built a big run and slid ahead of Balog to take the top spot. Traffic allowed Balog to close back in late, but it wasn’t enough to find a way around. Kofoid took the checkered flag and added six figures to his bank account.
“I’m out of breath. I don’t know what to say,” said an overwhelmed Kofoid. “Winning a six-figure race once is life changing as far as statistically in the sprint car world. For me, who appreciates the history, it’s cool to do it once let alone twice at pretty much my favorite track. I don’t even know. To be honest, I feel like I haven’t been the best car this weekend until this race just now, and that’s all due to Dylan (Buswell). I’m so lucky to have someone like him in my corner. I’m glad he’s not working with anyone else. I’m glad I don’t have to race against him. Nate and John, they do an outstanding job. They all work together super well, and I’m having the best time of my life.”
The win meant Kofoid has claimed both of Huset’s six-figure paydays since the trouble in 2023, making him the 12th driver in sprint car history with multiple victories worth at least $100,000. It was his fifth World of Outlaws victory and sixth overall win this season.
After leading a majority of the main event, Balog earned #25,000 for second.
“I feel like we’re doing a lot with a little, and I’d like to do a lot with a lot sometimes,” Balog said. “That’s as fast as I can go, so if I can’t win that one, then I don’t know. Congrats to Buddy. I feel like that’s as good as my race car is going to be. We maybe let a little money slip away, but we still had a good finish. Proud to be up here for sure.”
Third place went to Larson after pulling off a last-lap pass of David Gravel.
“I just spent way too long not very good and fell back to like sixth,” Larson said. “It really wasn’t until about eight to go that my car finally took off and we could start going forward. It was just a bummer of a race, was hoping for a caution at some point. I don’t know if it would’ve helped me or hurt me, but I was just hopeful of something.”
David Gravel and Tyler Courtney completed the top five.
The finish:
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 3. 57-Kyle Larson[2]; 4. 2-David Gravel[4]; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[8]; 6. 49-Brad Sweet[6]; 7. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[9]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz[7]; 9. 39M-Anthony Macri[5]; 10. 24-Rico Abreu[16]; 11. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[10]; 12. 41-Carson Macedo[14]; 13. 88T-Tanner Thorson[18]; 14. 14-Spencer Bayston[11]; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[21]; 16. 10-Ryan Timms[20]; 17. 69K-Christopher Bell[17]; 18. 9R-Chase Randall[15]; 19. 3-Tim Kaeding[12]; 20. 6K-Kaleb Johnson[24]; 21. 1A-Ashton Torgerson[19]; 22. 21-Brian Brown[13]; 23. 87-Aaron Reutzel[23]; 24. 55V-Kerry Madsen[22]
Source: Speed Sport
