The World of Outlaws Nos Energy Drink Sprint Cars visited El Paso County Raceway on Monday night to continue their 2026 season. It was the first time in over a decade that the series visited the facility. Ironically enough, it was on this very date 10 years ago, back in 2016, when the last visit occurred.
The tour has just 19 events left for the season if you include the World Finals, which takes place from Wednesday, November 4 through Saturday, November 7. All weather permitting, of course. Previously, the tour visited Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, Kansas, this past Saturday, where Michael “Buddy” Kofoid piloted the Roth Motorsports No. 83 entry to a dominant victory, led all 30 laps, and knocked down David Gravel’s gigantic points lead to 148 points.
Following a wild 35-lap feature event, which saw Gravel go upside down on the white flag lap with a lap car and collecting Carson Macedo with him, the victory went to Kofoid, who closed down the overall points lead once more. The victory was his 14th of the 2026 season and the 36th of his career.
“First off, I was trying to get on the brakes as hard as I can, at least get it turned in hopes of maybe miss him (Gravel’s flip), you know it worked out,” Kofoid said to Dirtvision when asked about the last lap incident. “I feel bad for the guys. I feel like I kind of feel like I did give that one away. Probably two or three bad laps in traffic, messing with that red and white 6 car (Bryan Gossel). David (Gravel) got there and tried to race with him, and just ran another not so great lap and gave it to Carson (Macedo).
“I still feel like we had speed for sure. I feel like we could run the top really hard. I got Carson (Macedo) back, and just kind of proved to me the winning move, if you will. I guess you’d rather be lucky than good, but David (Gravel) beat me in traffic, I just made too many mistakes. So glad to get a win, of course. Just a bummer how that almost went, but glad to have got it back.”
There were 27 Sprint Cars on the entry list for tonight’s race.
Feature Race Recap – 35 Laps – $12,000 To Win
Gravel started on the pole, with Kofoid on the outside. Gravel took the early lead and was side-by-side with Kofoid. However, Kofoid eventually took the lead on Lap 3 in Turn 3. On Lap 7, Kofoid began entering lap traffic on the back half of the field and maintained a sizable lead on Gravel.
However, Kofoid’s lead would be erased, as the first caution of the race fell at Lap 18 when Sheldon Haudenschild’s car was slow on the frontstretch. Haudenschild entered the pit area to work on the right rear. His Nos Energy Drink crew was able to fix the problem, and Haudenschild came back on the track as the last car on the lead lap.
For the restart, Kofoid chose the inside, and Gravel was on the outside. At Lap 23, Kofoid again began lapping the back half of the field, which allowed Gravel for a brief moment. Prior to taking Lap 28, Gravel was on the inside of Kofoid in Turn 4, but Kofoid held his position.
At Lap 31 of 35, Gravel was close to Kofoid on the right rear off Turn 4. However, with three laps to go, Gravel took his shot and grabbed the lead from Kofoid on the frontstretch entering Turn 1. Carson Macedo then moved into second with two to go.
Unfortunately for Gravel, he would be the cause of caution on the last lap as he made contact in Turns 1 and 2 with the Last Chance Showdown winner, Bryce Lucius. Gravel went upside down and also took Carson Macedo and Garret Williamson with him. This incident would bring out the red flag.
There was a two-lap dash to the finish, and the victory went to Kofoid, as he beat Steven Snyder Jr to the line by 0.712 seconds.
Heat Race Recaps – Top Six Transfer- 10 Laps A Piece
Prior to the heat races, there was a two-lap qualifying session. Pacing the hot lap session was Spencer Bayston with a time of 12.476 seconds. In qualifying, the fastest time went to Kofoid with a time of 12.153 seconds.
Heat 1 – Kofoid was on the pole for the first heat. The heat win was an easy win for Kofoid, who led every single lap to claim the win. Haudenschild, Chris Windom, Steven Snyder Jr., J.J. Hickle, and Skylar Gee were the transfers.
Heat 2 – Bayston had the pole for this heat and won by 1.2 seconds over points leader Gravel. After Gravel, it was Cole Macedo, Emerson Axsom, Adam Trimble, and Conner Morrell, your transfers. Trimble was making his Outlaw Sprint Car debut.
Heat 3 – Carson Macedo was the top starter for the third and final heat. Like the previous heat races, there were no yellows, and Carson Macedo went on to secure the heat victory. For the transfers, it was Garrett Williamson, Bill Balog, Donny Schatz, Garett Benson, and Zach Blurton.
Winning the eight-lap dash event was Gavel, which meant he would start on the pole for the feature. Bryce Lucius won the Last Chance Showdown.
For those who missed the feature, you can watch the highlights below.
Official Race Results Following El Paso County Raceway
- Michael Kofoid
- Steven Snyder Jr
- Chris Windom
- Donny Schatz
- Spencer Bayston
- Logan Schuchart
- Emerson Axsom
- Adam Trimble
- Cole Macedo
- Sheldon Haudenschild
- Bill Balog
- J.J. Hickle
- Skylar Gee
- Garet Williamson
- Carson Macedo
- Zach Blurton
- David Gravel
- Bryce Lucius
- Garrett Benson
- Austyn Gossel
- Conner Morell
- Zack Merritt
- Alex Pettas
- Bryan Gossel
Following tonight’s event, Kofoid gained 30 points on Gravel, and is now only 114 points behind first.
Up Next – The World of Outlaws Nos Energy Drink Sprint Car Series heads to the west coast to Stockton, California at the Stockton Dirt Track for the Dennis Roth Classic, which will be a two-day show on Friday and Saturday night, Sept 18 and Sept 19, live on Dirtvision.
