As always is the case with opening day at the annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, a number of stories broke throughout the day on Thursday surrounding the upcoming season of motorsports.
We wanted to make sure you didn’t miss any of it, and we put in here in one spot for you to see at the same time.
World of Outlaws announce bonus money for ’22
The World of Outlaws announced bonus money for all of its full-time drivers next season in every race sanctioned by the pair of national tours.
The highest running full-time driver committed to the tour will earn an extra $1,000 on top of whatever purse money they make in 2022. The second-fourth running drivers in the same race will earn an unannounced, staggered amount of bonus money and every full-timer from 5th-12th will gain $500 in the same category.
It’s the latest move in a battle of currency going on in the sport of dirt racing, especially on the super late model side.
Tony Stewart Racing to dial back No. 14 schedule
Rumors have swirled on the future of Tony Stewart Racing’s sprint car stable after the multi-time NASCAR champion announced the addition of a NHRA team in 2022.
However, Schatz confirmed that he’ll be back in the normal No. 15 car on Thursday and that the No. 14 – Kerry Madsen’s ride for a majority of last season – will run less races this year.
.@DonnySchatz confirms at PRI @TonyStewart_Rcg's sprint stable will primarily field the No. 15 in 2022, thus shelving the No. 14 "until @TonyStewart is ready to go back racing."
"It doesn't sound like [the 14 is] going to run," Schatz added.
TSR recently added an @NHRA program
— Kyle McFadden (@ByKyleMcFadden) December 9, 2021
Confirmed 2022 WoO Sprint Car Roster
As of Thursday, December 9
Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49 | Brad Sweet
Tony Stewart Racing No. 15 | Donny Schatz
Roth Motorsports No. 83 | James McFadden
CJB Motorsports No. 5 | Spencer Bayston (R)
*This list is comprised solely of teams with recent announcements about the future of their race team – this is NOT meant to suggest drivers who have ran on tour regularly in the past number of seasons will not return in 2022.
Josh Richards confirms World of Outlaws LM Return
Four-time World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion Josh Richards will return to the series in 2022 after parting ways with Clint Bowyer’s late model team this off-season.
Richards will join Boom Briggs on a two car team for 2022 with plans of contending for the championship.
SPEED SPORT reported on Thursday that the pair of drivers are the first two to officially sign platinum agreements with the World of Outlaws for next season, however a pair of rookies have already announced their attentions to chase the tour in the past.
Confirmed 2022 WoO LMS Roster
As of Thursday, December 9
Boom Briggs Racing No. 99B | Boom Briggs
Boom Briggs Racing No. TBA | Josh Richards
Kyle Hammer Racing No. 45 | Kyle Hammer (R)
Shawn Martin/Viper Motorsports No. 111 | Max Blair (R)
*This list is comprised solely of teams with recent announcements about the future of their race team – this is NOT meant to suggest drivers who have ran on tour regularly in the past number of seasons will not return in 2022.
Ricky Weiss has announced that he will follow an open schedule in 2022.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing announce 2022 Indy 500 Lineup
DRR announced its lineup for the 2022 Indianapolis 500, consisting of a pair of drivers with a load of experience in the race.
Sage Karam and Santino Ferrucci will be piloting cars in 2022 for the team.
BREAKING 🚨
We are super excited to announce our two drivers for the 2022 Indianapolis 500!
Welcome @SageKaram & @SantinoFerrucci! #DrivenByDRR pic.twitter.com/mpkxDohlLM
— Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (@DRRIndyCar) December 9, 2021
2022 USAC Midget and Non-Wing Sprint schedules released
Two of the three national USAC schedules were released on Thursday with the midget and non-wing sprint car schedules being unveiled.
The midget slate features 39 race days across the year opening the season with the Winter Dirt Games at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL on February 11 and concluding in November at Venture for the Turkey Night Grand Prix on November 26. The full schedule can be seen here:
Here 'tis.
The 2022 USAC @NosEnergyDrink Midget National Championship schedule has officially dropped! 👇 pic.twitter.com/Cnw8gNS4Mr
— USAC Racing (@USACNation) December 9, 2021
As for the non-wing’s, the tour will go for 51 races in the 2022 season with a majority coming in its home state of Indiana. They’ll open the season the week after the midgets at Ocala and conclude on November 5 at the end of a three-day swing at Perris Auto Speedway.
It's out. Now it's on! 😎
Check it out. The 2022 USAC @AMSOILINC Sprint Car National Championship schedule has been unveiled! pic.twitter.com/I0yZp9pCnz
— USAC Racing (@USACNation) December 9, 2021
Silver Crown Schedule coming Friday, Stockon announces ride
The USAC Silver Crown Schedule will be released at 9:00 a.m. CT on Friday morning at PRI, but the series has already confirmed its first driver for the 2022 season.
Chase Stockon will be driving the Pink Racing No. 69 car and chasing after a championship next year.
Antron Brown officially announces formation of AB Motorsports
There’s going to be an amount of movement in the 2022 NHRA Drag Racing Silly Season and some of the dominoes have already fallen.
Antron Brown confirmed that he will be starting AB Motorsports – a two-car team in the top fuel division of the NHRA that will feature himself and 2020 Rookie of the Year Justin Davis as drivers.
Brown’s new team can be found on Twitter at @ABMotorsports1 and Ron Capps is expected to announce his own new team on Friday at PRI.
AB MOTORSPORTS FORMS MULTI-FACETED ALLIANCE WITH @TheJustinAshley /DAVIS MOTORSPORTS.
READ MORE: https://t.co/Slm6ZtSL10@matcotools // @ToyotaRacing // @Hangsterfers // @Streamlight pic.twitter.com/RW2tLpz1uI
— ABMotorsports (@AbMotorsports1) December 7, 2021
