• Logan Schuchart: Schuchart picked up his first-ever World of Outlaws victory earlier this season and has had high confidence for the past month, courtesy of dropping in a fresh motor for his No. 1S entering Nationals week. However, the Shark Racing young gun was only able to finish 16th on his preliminary night and has his work cut out for him to make the championship feature.
• Danny Lasoski: Lasoski is a four-time Nationals champion (1998, 2001, 2003-2004), the 2001 World of Outlaws titlist and the defending National Sprint League champion, but has struggled throughout this year’s Nationals. He ended his prelim night fifth in the B-main and will likely have the furthest road he’s had in many years to travel if he hopes to make another championship feature start.
• Dave Blaney: For 1995 World of Outlaws champion and 1997 Nationals winner Blaney, a move to a part-time schedule in the Motter Motorsports No. 71M was anticipated to be a return to his roots, and after a win during Florida Speedweeks, that seemed like it would be the case all year. But Blaney has had an abysmal Nationals performance so far, finishing 13th in the B-main on his prelim night and never being a factor with a lot of speed. If nothing else, he’ll be fired up and fun to watch as he tries to make his first A-main since winning the race in ’97.
Now, keep in mind, the list of 16 drivers who are locked into the field for Saturday’s 50-lap headliner does include 2013 Outlaws champion Daryn Pittman, reigning Outlaws Rookie of the Year Jason Johnson, nine-time Nationals winner and seven-time Outlaws champion Schatz, prelim night winners Shane Stewart and Tim Kaeding, as well as three-time Outlaws champion and 1983 Nationals winner Sammy Swindell.
And on top of that, the B-main on Saturday already has multi-time All Star Circuit of Champions titlist Dale Blaney, Sprint Cup star Kyle Larson,
But, let’s not kid ourselves here.
If the seven drivers I spotlighted above all make Friday’s ‘Hard Knox’ A-main, alongside some of the full-time Outlaws contenders like rookies Greg Wilson and Clyde Knipp, Paul McMahan, All Stars stalwarts Kraig Kinser and Sheldon Haudenschild, and others on top of that?
Then Friday night’s feature activities might just be as damn entertaining as the pomp and circumstance of Saturday’s championship night festivities all in itself.
You wanted the best, and you got ’em four-a-breast all the way back through the field.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
The opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Race Chaser Online, Speed77 Radio, the Performance Motorsports Network, their sponsors or other contributors.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: speed77radio@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
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