HARTFORD — There will be plenty of experience on the track as some of the top drivers in the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series arrive at the Hartford Speedway for the “Battle of Michigan” July 28.
Last year, Brad Sweet, who is second in points, Jason Johnson, who has a pair of wins this season, Logan Schuchart, who has three victories thus far in 2017, Greg Wilson, Jacob Allen and Clyde Knipp all made their first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series starts at Hartford. Johnson and Wilson previously had competed at the track with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions.
Sheldon Haudenschild from Ohio and Brent Marks from Pennsylvania are contending for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this season. Haudenschild won at Hartford Speedway last season with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions, while Marks will be making his debut at the now-three-eighths-mile.
Sweet has been keeping pace with Schatz in the standings and is less than 70 points behind as he seeks his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series championship. The Californian has four wins, including high-paying events at the Jackson Motorplex in Minnesota and the famed Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Texas. Sweet and Gravel are tied for the series lead in top-10 finishes.
Shane Stewart won at Hartford Speedway last year on the former half-mile configuration, after starting on the outside of the front row. The veteran driver took the lead from eight-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz on the start. Stewart would hold off Schatz in the 25-lap race to score his first win at the track and his first in the state of Michigan with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.
Joey Saldana is the only driver who has competed in all eight previous World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series events at Hartford Speedway. The second-generation driver was a winner at the track in 2011. Saldana has eight top-10 finishes in the same number of starts at Hartford. It is unknown at this time if Saldana will be competing in the “Battle of Michigan.”
Tickets for the “Battle of Michigan” can be purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com, by calling SLS Promotions at (815) 344-2023 and at the track on race day.