WoO Notes: Big Money On The Line In South Dakota

BRANDON, S.C. — The banks for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series teams are about to be busy.Major money is the story this week at Huset’s Speedway.
The BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals packs two big events into one. First up is the Huset’s Hustle on Wednesday-Thursday, June 18-19. A $20,000-to-win/$1,500-to-start prelim sets the stage for a $100,000-to-win main event the following night.
Friday serves up another $20,000 winner’s check to lead into Saturday’s $250,000-to-win High Bank Nationals finale to equal the highest payday in World of Outlaws history.
All in all, more than $800,000 in purse money is up for grabs this week, and as expected, the best of the best will be there to chase it with more than 60 sprint cars planning to fill the Huset’s pit area.
THE BOSS’ HOUSE
The pressure is on for David Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports crew this week. They’ll want to perform for the bossman, as Tod Quiring owns both the team and racetrack.
That was no issue for Gravel and company two years ago when the winner’s share first rose to $250,000, making the High Bank Nationals the highest paying race in series history. After some mechanical misfortune for Michael “Buddy” Kofoid with less than 10 laps to go, Gravel inherited the top spot and drove the BillionAuto.com No. 2 on a quarter of a million dollars trip to victory lane.
That’s not the only night Gravel has crossed the finish line first at Huset’s. He also topped a pair of World of Outlaws visits to the Brandon, S.D., oval in 2021. The Watertown, Conn., native enters the week with a 174-point advantage atop the standings, but this week, points are off the table. It’s all about cashing in.
HIGH DOLLAR DRAMA
Fans can expect to see a thrilling conclusion to the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards if history is any indication.
Two of the three event finales have come down to a last-lap pass. The inaugural edition, in 2022, saw Sheldon Haudenschild charge from sixth to the win over the final five laps, sealing the deal by driving around James McFadden on the final circuit. Last year, Carson Macedo threw a Hail Mary slider at Michael “Buddy” Kofoid in the final corner, but Kofoid crossed him over to bank the big check.
Don’t be surprised if it’s a similar story this week. With the crazy cash on the line, the action will be intense every time cars hit the track.
$CHATZ
There’s one man who has thrived under the pressure of big money being on the line throughout sprint car history, and his name is Donny Schatz.
The sport of sprint car racing has seen 57 races pay at least six-figures to the winner, and Donny Schatz has topped 13 of them – a 23% clip. If you tally up the cash he’s collected from those races alone, the calculator shows a whopping $1,940,000 in winnings from a baker’s dozen nights of work.
The events responsible for Schatz’s big paydays are Knoxville Raceway’s Knoxville Nationals (10), Eldora Speedway’s Kings Royal (two), and Eldora’s Historical Big One (one).
Schatz will look to add Huset’s to his list of six-figure scores and join David Gravel as only the second driver to claim a $100K-plus paycheck from three different tracks. The Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian driver has won four times at Huset’s in World of Outlaws competition.
HUSET’S HUSTLERS
The 2025 World of Outlaws roster features several more competitors who have a Huset’s checkered flag or two.
Sheldon Haudenschild’s 2022 thriller isn’t his only trip to Huset’s victory lane. The Wooster, Ohio, native also won there in 2020 and is the defending Huset’s Hustle champion.
Carson Macedo has twice topped a Huset’s World of Outlaws main event with the Jason Johnson Racing crew (2022 and 2024).
Two years ago, Logan Schuchart took the Shark Racing No. 1s to his first Huset’s score in his 16th attempt at the South Dakota oval.
Garet Williamson is a three-time Huset’s winner in local action, including a pair with the Fischer Motorsports team that he hit the road on the World of Outlaws tour with this year.
Giovanni Scelzi drove from fifth to the win at a local Huset’s race in 2022 aboard the KCP Racing No. 18 just before joining The Greatest Show on Dirt.
While Chris Windom has only a single winged sprint car start at Huset’s, he’s got plenty of USAC laps at the third-mile. The Canton, Ill., native owns a pair of national midget victories at Huset’s, both coming in 2021.
Christopher Bell (Paul Arch photo)
STAR-STUDDED
There will be no shortage of talent in the Huset’s Speedway pits this week.
A pair of current NASCAR Cup Series stars with firm dirt track roots have registered to compete. Kyle Larson and the Silva Motorsports team have already won a trio of World of Outlaws races this year in only seven tries. They’ll go for more at Huset’s, where Larson owns a pair of victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt. The Kreitz Racing No. 69k is leaving the Pennsylvania porch as Christopher Bell intends to pilot the legendary ride for the Huset’s Hustle portion. It’ll mark the Norman, Okla., driver’s Huset’s debut.
The Pennsylvania Posse is sending Anthony Macri to represent as he continues his recent trip off the porch. He’s currently the nation’s third-winningest 410 sprint car driver with seven scores to his credit. The “Concrete Kid” won a local race at Huset’s last year.
Tyler Courtney topped the Huset’s Hustle prelim last year aboard the Clauson Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 7bc, and “Sunshine” plans to return this year. “Sunshine” recently got his first win of the year, claiming a weekly race at Knoxville Raceway.
Expect these gassers and several others including Rico Abreu, Ryan Timms, Brad Sweet, Brian Brown, Kerry Madsen, Tim Kaeding and many more.
DEFENDING THE DAKOTAS
This week also offers many local competitors the chance to shine on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
Sioux Falls’s own Kaleb Johnson went undefeated through the opening three nights at Huset’s this year. He’s since slightly cooled off with a fifth and a pair of thirds but remains a nightly threat.
North Dakota’s Mark Dobmeier will make his way down to his home’s counterpart to the south. “Dynamite” owns more than a dozen Huset’s triumphs, including a pair with The Greatest Show on Dirt.
Ryan Timms calls Oklahoma City, Okla., home, but he drives for the South Dakota-based Liebig Motorsports. The pairing has already won twice at Huset’s this year, bringing Timms’ win total at the track to eight.
These three will be joined by more with local ties, such as Sam Henderson, Jade Hastings Dominic Dobesh.