It was a solid start to the 2023 racing season for Big Game Motorsports’ David Gravel, who took home the victory in the opening race of the season which saw some unique results as well.
Gravel had a solid car by the time the dash ran on Thursday, but mother nature ended the night for drivers before things could wrap up.
In the makeup race on Friday, Gravel didn’t look back.
“Man, I really wanted to race last night,” Gravel said on DirtVision. “The track was so good and I felt like we had a really good car in the dash there. You just never know (what’s going to happen) when you race like this early in the night – kind of in the day.”
Others weren’t as lucky. Four-time and defending champion, Brad Sweet, never found his footing in the race, finishing P19 to start his year.
That’s a surprise for anyone this week. Sweet won the first race of the week at the track – a preseason event as far as World of Outlaws points go – and only missed 10 top 10 finishes in 2022.
Anthony Macri led the race nearly to the halfway mark, but eventually brought the car to the pits with engine issues.
“(I’m) just happy it went well,” Gravel said. “Obviously a really heavy race track. (Turns) 1 and 2 was pretty good, but man I was scared I was going to tear too many tearoffs there. I was gonna get to 2nd or 3rd quick and conserve tearoffs the rest of the race.”
The season continues Friday night at Volusia, however weather in the area is threatening things. The race is currently in a delay as the night goes on – updated 6:20 p.m. Feb. 10.
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Results
DIRTCar Nationals Night 1
Volusia Speedway Park
Friday, February 10, 2023 (make-up race from Thurs.)
1. David Gravel
2. Buddy Kofoid
3. Danny Dietrich
4. Sheldon Haudenschild
5. Logan Schuchart
6. Robbie Price
7. Brent Marks
8. Zeb Wise
9. Carson Macedo
10. Aaron Reutzel
11. Kasey Kahne
12. Brock Zearfoss
13. Sam Hafertepe Jr.
14. Donny Schatz
15. Hunter Schuerenberg
16. Spencer Bayston
17. Brian Brown
18. James McFadden
19. Brad Sweet
20. Gio Scelzi
21. Jacob Allen
22. Parker Price-Miller
23. Kraig Kinser
24. Noah Gass
25. Anthony Macri
26. Bill Balog
27. Bill Rose
28. Jacob Dykstra
| World of Outlaws Standings | ||||
| Pos. | Driver | Wins | Points | Behind |
| 1 | David Gravel | 1 | 150 | – |
| 2 | Buddy Kofoid | 146 | -4 | |
| 3 | Danny Dietrich | 144 | -6 | |
| 4 | Sheldon Haudenschild | 142 | -8 | |
| 5 | Logan Schuchart | 140 | -10 | |
| 6 | Robbie Price | 138 | -12 | |
| 7 | Brent Marks | 136 | -14 | |
| 8 | Zeb Wise | 134 | -16 | |
| 9 | Carson Macedo | 132 | -18 | |
| 10 | Aaron Reutzel | 130 | -20 | |
| 11 | Kasey Kahne | 128 | -22 | |
| 12 | Brock Zearfoss | 126 | -24 | |
| 13 | Sam Hafertepe Jr. | 124 | -26 | |
| 14 | Donny Schatz | 122 | -28 | |
| 15 | Hunter Schuerenberg | 120 | -30 | |
| 16 | Spencer Bayston | 118 | -32 | |
| 17 | Brian Brown | 116 | -34 | |
| 18 | James McFadden | 114 | -36 | |
| 19 | Brad Sweet | 112 | -38 | |
| 20 | Gio Scelzi | 110 | -40 | |
| 21 | Jacob Allen | 108 | -42 | |
| 22 | Parker Price-Miller | 106 | -44 | |
| 23 | Kraig Kinser | 104 | -46 | |
| 24 | Noah Gass | 102 | -48 | |
| 25 | Anthony Macri | 100 | -50 | |
| 26 | Bill Balog | 98 | -52 | |
| 27 | Bill Rose | 96 | -54 | |
| 28 | Jacob Dykstra | 94 | -56 | |
