2017 World of Outlaws Preview

As is the case with many national series, the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series is set to kick off their 2017 campaign this month in Florida. Race number one of the series' scheduled 90+ events will be on February 17 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville.

Entering the season, Donny Schatz returns as the odds-on favorite to take home the title. Schatz has won the series championship the previous three years and four of the last five seasons. The North Dakota native, who runs for Tony Stewart Racing, collected an impressive 25 series wins in 2016 including one here in Indiana when he was the first to the checkers at Lincoln Park Speedway in June.

Donny Schatz collected his 8th WoO Championship in 2016
PC: Braden Rouse Photography

Chasing Schatz will be a number of drivers with the talent to run up front consistently and with the financial backing to keep them competitive.

Shane Stewart returns to his ride with Larson Marks Racing this season after a solid 2016. Stewart collected eight wins last year including a victory at Lawrenceburg Speedway on Memorial Day.

Shane Stewart returns to the Larson Marks Racing #2 in 2017
PC: Braden Rouse Photography

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of the 2016 season was the performance of David Gravel. Gravel picked up nine wins, second only to Schatz, and finished on the podium in the standings in third position. Gravel will return to CJB Motorsports in 2017.

The Kasey Kahne Racing stall returns a pair of drivers who have the ability to contend for a title in Daryn Pittman and Brad Sweet.

Pittman was the series runner up in 2016 behind a consistent campaign that featured 68 Top 10 finishes. The Owasso, OK native picked up eight series victories last season and is the last driver not named Donny Schatz to win a series title when he did so in 2013.

Daryn Pittman in action at Eldora Speedway
PC: Braden Rouse Photography

Pittman's teammate, Brad Sweet, also hopes to build on his success from last season in 2017. Sweet finished fourth in the standings behind eight wins and 45 Top 5's. Sweet was also the fastest qualifier 13 times last season, a series high.

Brad Sweet was the fast qualifier a series high 13 times a year ago
PC:Braden Rouse Photography

Joey Saldana will begin his season in Florida with the newly formed Stenhouse Jr.-Wood Racing team. The "Brownsburg Bullet" needs just one win to eclipse the 100-win mark with the World of Outlaws. A fan favorite, Saldana finished fifth last season in the standings with five wins.

A number of other drivers will also run full time in 2017 including Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen among others.

Hoosiers will get three opportunities to see the Outlaws in action in Indiana this season. The first two races will be on back-to-back nights in April when the series visits Plymouth Speedway and then Tri-State Speedway. The series will then return to Lawrenceburg Speedway on Memorial Day for the Outlaw Spring Nationals.

More information can be found on the World of Outlaws website.

2016 Results

1. Donny Schatz
2. Daryn Pittman
3. David Gravel
4. Brad Sweet
5. Joey Saldana
6. Shane Stewart
7. Jason Johnson
8. Logan Schuchart