Column: Kings Royal Throne Awaits New Champion During WoO Sprint Doubleheader

Column By: NICK GRAZIANO / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – ROSSBURG, OH – Hear ye! Hear ye! The throne at Eldora Speedway awaits a new king.
The best Sprint Car drivers in the world will duel for the crown when the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to the “Big E” for the 41st Kings Royal weekend, Friday-Saturday, July 19-20.
Along with receiving royal honors, Saturday’s victor will be bestowed a $175,000 check – the third six-figure payout in a month’s time for the World of Outlaws.
Friday’s Knight Before will set the stage for the weekend with a 30-lap battle for $25,000.
Ten-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz (King Donny XL) claimed his sixth Kings Royal title last year after leading all 40 laps. He’s now one away from tying Steve Kinser (King Steve XXVII) for the most Kings Royal victories.
He’s also one away from 20 wins overall at the historic half-mile track – owned by his Sprint Car team owner Tony Stewart.
Schatz was the first repeat winner since 2018 as the last five editions of the Kings Royal have produced five different winners – Schatz (2023), Brent Marks (2022), Kyle Larson (2021), Tyler Courtney (2021) and Brad Sweet (2019).
Current World of Outlaws points leader David Gravel and Ohio’s Sheldon Haudenschild will enter the event as the most recent World of Outlaws winners at Eldora, having each scored a victory there in May. Both will be on a quest for their first Kings Royal title.
Haudenschild’s father, Jac Haudenschild (King Jac XV), is a three-time Kings Royal champion and was the fourth driver in the event’s history to win it. If Sheldon can score his own crown, the Haudenschilds will be the first father-son duo to win the Kings Royal.