Column: Two Nights At I-55 To Decide Next Ironman Champion For World Of Outlaws

Column By: ALEX NIETEN / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – PEVELY, MO – There may be no race more appropriately named than the Ironman 55. It’s grueling. It’s exhausting. It’s intense. It’s a test of a driver’s stamina. And it’s what’s next for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.

After a Sunday showdown in New York, The Greatest Show on Dirt will travel nearly 900 miles this week to Pevely, MO where Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 awaits. The high-banked bullring will host two nights (August 4-5) of action this weekend concluded by Saturday’s 55 lapper to decide the champion of the 15th Ironman 55. The winner of the 2023 edition will take home the unique dumbbell trophy and $20,000.

The prestigious event serves as two more nights toward one of the most competitive championship battles in Series history. David Gravel carries a narrow eight-point lead over Brad Sweet into Pevely with Carson Macedo lurking in third, 40 markers behind Sweet.

Ironman also presents two more chances to gather some momentum heading into the biggest week of the season with the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals on deck.

As an added bonus for fans, they’ll be treated to double the open wheel action as the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets presented by Toyota will be joining the fun for both nights.

Let’s look at some of the weekend’s top storylines:

I AM IRONMAN: Of the stout field expected to fill the I-55 pit area this weekend, a trio are former Ironman 55 champions.

Sheldon Haudenschild owns a pair of Ironman dumbbells (2019 & 2021) behind the wheel of the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink #17. The Wooster, OH native has history in his sights this weekend as a third win would equal him with Craig Dollansky for the most. Of Haudenschild’s two triumphs, his 2019 victory stands out as one of the most dominant performances in Series history when he won by more than 10 seconds and lapped up to sixth place. As he crossed the finish line, Johnny Gibson summed it up perfectly with five words, “Sheldon Haudenschild destroys the field.”

Logan Schuchart conquered Ironman in 2018 with Shark Racing. To this day that remains Schuchart’s lone victory at the quarter mile – a fact he looks to change this weekend. While he hasn’t picked up a second I-55 win as of yet, Schuchart has been remarkably close with 12 more top fives on top of the 2018 score. A second Ironman title would put him in the company of Dollansky, Haudenschild, and Rico Abreu as the only competitors with multiple wins.

The most recent Ironman is four-time and defending Series champion – Brad Sweet. Last year “The Big Cat” dominated the demanding race, leading all 55 circuits. Considering Sweet’s I-55 résumé, it’s difficult to not consider him the favorite. In his last 15 starts at the south of St. Louis oval, Sweet owns six victories, 13 podiums, and a 2.7 average finish. If he can come out on top again, Sweet will become the first since Rico Abreu in 2016 & 2017 to claim consecutive Ironman titles.

PEVELY PROS: The former winners of the event have already shown their capability, but a handful of other competitors stand out as likely candidates to lift the dumbbell for the first time this weekend.

In recent years, Carson Macedo has emerged as one of the strongest drivers anytime the World of Outlaws roll into Pevely. Last April the Lemoore, CA native picked up his first win at the quarter mile. Then he followed that with another victory in August when he slid by Brad Sweet in the final corner. The Jason Johnson Racing pilot hasn’t missed the top five in his last four I-55 starts.

The Ironman 55 is one of few marquee events that doesn’t appear on Donny Schatz’s list of achievements. He’s been about as close as you can get with four runner-up finishes, most recently in 2019. The 10-time Series champion has proven he can get to Victory Lane in Pevely with victories in 2006 & 2015, and he’ll look to snag that elusive Ironman title this weekend.

David Gravel might not have as robust of a record at I-55 as some of his competition, but he can’t be counted out considering his 2023 performance to this point. Dating back to early June, Gravel has five wins, 12 podiums, and only one finish outside the top 10 in his last 17 races. The point leader has triumphed in Pevely once before, topping night one of the 2016 Ironman.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: There’s one driver who has stood on the second and third steps of the Ironman podium the past two editions, and it’s James McFadden.

Two years ago, the Australian finished runner-up aboard Kasey Kahne Racing’s #9 machine. Then, last year he made the move to his current ride – the Roth Motorsports #83 – and brought it home third. McFadden also finished third in the 2014 edition, so he’s hungry to stand atop that elusive top podium spot.

He and the Roth crew have been strong all season long with four wins under their belts.

GASSIN’ AROUND PEVELY: For Noah Gass, Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 has always been one of his strongest tracks.

Before he became a full-time World of Outlaws driver in 2021, Gass earned his first top 15 with the Series at Pevely in 2021. Last year during his rookie campaign, Gass finished 13th on night one of Ironman before posting a very impressive ninth in the finale. Then, back in April of this season he earned another top 15.

The Mounds, OK native will enter Ironman weekend with some momentum. Gass is fresh off notching his best finish of the season – an 11th at Weedsport Speedway.