WORLD OF OUTLAWS: GRAVEL’S MISSISSIPPI THUNDER WIN

All Photography by: Tyler Carr.

By Alex Nieten (article courtesy Speed Sport)

August 20, 2025: FOUNTAIN CITY, Wisconsin — The hype was off the charts for Tuesday’s (August 19) World of Outlaws NOS EnergyDrink Sprintcar Series debut at Mississippi Thunder Speedway, and it didn’t let fans down.

The green flag waved for the main event and unleashed a 30-lap, three-leader thriller. Early on it was the home state favorite Bill Balog leading the way from the pole in search of a popular victory.

Then the Shark Racing number 1S struck as Logan Schuchart hunted down Balog and took the top spot. Not many laps later defending series champion joined the fun and snatched the lead on Lap 9.

Once Gravel led the way, he and the Big Game Motorsports team appeared as if they were on their way to a comfortable win, but Michael “Buddy” Kofoid had other plans.

The Roth Motorsports number 83 started ninth and climbed into second by the 21st circuit. Traffic tightened things up on the final lap, but Kofoid just couldn’t find a route around Gravel.

“I know my two laps before that (the last lap) weren’t very good,” Gravel admitted. “Lapped cars were kind of running top and bottom and trying to run the middle and not really committing to the top in (turns) 1 and 2. I spun my tyres and got sideways. I know got through (Turns) 3 and 4 really good on the last lap, but I just needed a lap like that. Luckily, it was good enough to get the job done.

“Truly, I didn’t know where to run. I think the bottom was really good early, and then it got slick on entry and was hard to carry speed. I had the wing pretty far back and didn’t want to get too far back so I could still steer. Just happy to get the job done.”

Gravel pushed his 2025 World of Outlaws win total to a dozen, which stands atop the list by three over Carson Macedo. His career total sits at 115. Mississippi Thunder is now the 52nd different track where Gravel has won. His point lead grew to 172 markers with 50 races in the books.

Kofoid claimed the runner-up spot after his spirited run from the fifth row.

“We had a really good Roth Motorsports, Mobil 1, Toyota number 83 and were really coming on late,” Kofoid said. “Then that restart with seven to go doesn’t seal the fate. I didn’t think we’d actually get into traffic like that. Clean air for anyone, especially David, helps, but we were able to pace him better than I thought. In traffic, I feel like we had a chance that last lap. I was able to do a big diamond again and got close. It’s just tough with lappers and trying to navigate them and also pass for the win but still really happy with how our night ended.”

The final podium position belonged to Schuchart.

“I was ready for that race to be over because we were not very good,” Schuchart said. “We were just kind of hanging on there. I think the starting position helped us out. Happy to be on the podium the last couple races with a second last race and a third here. Two good runs.”

Balog and Garet Williamson completed the top five.

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[4]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[9]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[2]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 5. 23-Garet Williamson[7]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 7. 15S-Kerry Madsen[3]; 8. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[11]; 9. 99-Skylar Gee[14]; 10. 7S-Chris Windom[15]; 11. 2C-Cole Macedo[13]; 12. 6-Zach Hampton[18]; 13. 18-Emerson Axsom[8]; 14. 15-Donny Schatz[12]; 15. 88-Austin McCarl[17]; 16. 24T-Christopher Thram[10]; 17. 16-Riley Goodno[23]; 18. 33-Scott Broty[22]; 19. 11M-Brendan Mullen[16]; 20. 14-Brooke Tatnell[24]; 21. 87A-Austin Hartmann[20]; 22. G5-Gage Pulkrabek[21]; 23. 28M-Conner Morrell[19]; 24. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]