The entire state of Ohio is covered in dirt tracks, which cover an area of almost 40,000 square miles. With a long and illustrious history that has developed throughout the many terrains, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars have made a lasting impression inside this enormous area.
The tradition of racing in the Buckeye State is expected to flourish in 2024. The Greatest Show on Dirt will host seven races at five different locations over the course of the next 25 days. Beginning on May 3–4, Eldora Speedway will host two nights of excitement. On May 17 and 18, Sharon Speedway and Atomic Speedway will have stops, and on May 27 and 27, Fremont Speedway will host stops.
Since the World of Outlaws racing series’ founding in 1978, Ohio has hosted more than 300 events, making it a popular venue. The World of Outlaws race was held at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, and the group of racers didn’t spend any time in traveling there. In that historic race, Pennsylvania’s Bobby Allen came out on top.
The World of Outlaws made an outstanding eight appearances at The Big E in their inaugural campaign. Rick Ferkel, an Ohio native, stood out from the throng and won four of those races, inspiring fellow Buckeyes. This impressive beginning paved the path for Eldora Speedway and the World of Outlaws Series to have a long and successful partnership.
The best Sprint Car drivers in the country competed at two more Ohio ovals in 1978. At Limaland Motorsports Park, Ferkel prevailed, and on his only trip to Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, OH, Steve Smith from New Oxford, PA won the Series. Ohio had the most events on the Series schedule that year, with a total of 13 races conducted there.
After four seasons of World of Outlaws action, Ohio emerged as the state with the most events hosted. Along with Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, New Bremen Speedway, Mansfield Motor Speedway, and Millstream Speedway in Findlay, Eldora continued to be a mainstay venue. Over the course of those four years, these songs increased the series’ appeal and excitement overall.
Eldora Raceway was a fixture on the racing calendar throughout the 1980s, holding many events each season. Events were periodically held at both Millstream and Wayne County, but two new tracks weren’t added until the early 1990s. Steve Kinser won the race on the opening weekend of Attica Raceway Park and Fremont Speedway in May 1990. Millstream Speedway was honored to host Ohio’s 100th World of Outlaws Race on July 15, 1990.
A major turning point in the history of the World of Outlaws and the Kings Royal was reached in the 1990s. The Series is getting ready to return to Eldora for the 41st edition of the event on July 19–20; a whooping $175,000 reward awaits the victor. This tradition has persisted to this day.
Danny Lasoski created history in 2002 when he won the Series at Hartford’s Sharon Speedway, the first new track to open in more than ten years. The Greatest Show on Dirt visited Atomic Speedway, formerly known as K-C Raceway, the following year, marking the show’s 11th track visit.
various local talents have risen to national prominence with the World of Outlaws thanks to Ohio’s various racetracks. Among the 152 drivers who have won World of Outlaws races, Ohio is home to an astounding 16 of them.
After winning an astounding 95 races in the World of Outlaws series, Dave Blaney of Hartford, Ohio, has made a name for himself in the racing industry. With this incredible accomplishment, he now stands at number eight on the list of all-time triumphs. Blaney’s career as a winner started in 1985, when he won at Granite City, Illinois’s Tri-City Speedway. But Blaney really took off in the middle of the 1990s and reached new heights. He became an unstoppable force after partnering with Casey Luna, taking down an incredible 56 Features between 1993 and 1996. Blaney also won the well-earned 1995 championship during this victorious time.
Two of the most accomplished drivers from Ohio are the father-son team of Jac and Sheldon Haudenschild, who are from Wooster, OH. Throughout his career, Jac, who went by the nickname “The Wild Child” due to his daring driving style, won an astounding 72 races. He won races while driving 15 different cars, but he was most successful when he drove Jack Elden’s #22 car, which helped him to 32 victories. However, after joining Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing in 2018, Sheldon has collected 37 checkered flags, including a stellar three in 2024 already.
The next driver on the list is Rick Ferkel, the first winner from the state of Ohio. Ferkel, also known as The Ohio Traveler, won an astounding 21 races, eight of them were in his own state. Before his tragically brief career ended in 1988, Brad Doty, another accomplished driver from Millersburg, Ohio, had collected eighteen checkered flags.
Apart from the previously listed Ohio winners, several other skilled drivers have also secured noteworthy victories. Hartford native Dale Blaney demonstrated his abilities on the track. Danny Smith of Chillicothe demonstrated his mettle, and Holmesville’s Kenny Jacobs made an impression. Troy’s Jack Hewitt displayed his extraordinary skill, and Findlay’s Chad Kemenah proved his mettle. The roster of accomplished Ohio drivers now includes Frankie Kerr of Fremont, Greg Wilson of Benton Ridge, Randy Ford of Elmore, Johnny Beaber of Gibsonburg, Rick Ungar of Belpree, and Dean Jacobs of Wooster.
Eldora Speedway’s rich legacy in Ohio will be further cemented in only one day with the highly anticipated visit of the World of Outlaws. Eldora Speedway is the most popular location in the country for the best talent, having hosted 235 visits in the past.
In 2024, Ohio racing enthusiasts will have a lot to look forward to. Six different racetracks in Ohio will play host to a total of 12 races presented by the World of Outlaws. This consists of three races in July, two more in September, and five racing nights in May. The calendar also commemorates Wayne County Speedway’s comeback, continuing the World of Outlaws’ illustrious relationship with the Buckeye State. New chapters will be written after every race, solidifying the influence of this thrilling sport on Ohio’s racing landscape.
Ohio Races for World of Outlaws 2024
On May 3–4, the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg will stage a thrilling event.
Attica Raceway Park in Attica will hold a thrilling event on May 17.
An intriguing thing happened at Hartford’s Sharon Speedway on May 18.
The race is set to go at Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe on May 24–25.
A thrilling event happened at Fremont Speedway in Fremont on May 27.
An exciting event happened at Attica Raceway Park in Attica on July 16.
Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Pennsylvania, will stage a thrilling event on July 19–20.
An interesting event was held at the Wayne County Speedway in Orrville on September 27.
The action took place at Hartford’s Sharon Speedway on September 28.
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