CONCORD, N.C. – David Gravel won the battle in Saturday night’s Can-Am World Finals for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at the Dirt Track at Charlotte, but Brad Sweet won the war.
Gravel, from Watertown, Conneticuit, edged out Sweet for the victory, making him the winningest driver in the series on the year with 12 wins.
Sweet’s second place finish over Schatz in third, allowed him to edge out Schatz for the championship by four points – the closest championship finish in series history.
“I feel really relieved,” Sweet said. “It’s just different than winning big races. A championship is just a different level. You try to act like it won’t affect you if you lose, but it’s been the most stressful couple days of my life to be honest. I tried to act like it wasn’t.”
Coming into the season finale race at the Can-Am World Finals Sweet had a mere two-point lead over Schatz — after losing six points to the Fargo, N.D. driver Friday night at the Charlotte dirt track.
Sweet started third with Schatz behind him in eighth. Once the race went green for multiple laps, after being hindered by a caution and two red flags at the start, Sweet was stationary in third, while Schatz wasted no time charging his way forward.
After two laps Schatz had already rocketed his way to fourth, running the high side of the track. Sweet ran low, not making ground on the leaders and losing time to Schatz. On lap five, Schatz powered to the outside of Sweet down the backstretch and cleared him for third going into turn three. Schatz needed to either win or finish two positions ahead of Sweet to secure what would have been his 11th championship.
Schatz slipped off turn four, allowing Sweet to pull even with him down the front stretch. Sweet then pulled the slide job of his life into turn one, darting ahead of Schatz, leaving inches between their bumpers as he slid in front of him. Sweet was then able to get the better run off turn two and drove away from his championship competitor.
With 10 laps to go Schatz almost had the championship handed to him. The lapped car of Danny Dietrich spun directly in front of Sweet, forcing him to make a split-second evasive maneuver. The caution also put Schatz within reaching distance of Sweet.
However, on the restart Sweet didn’t give Schatz a chance to attack. He gapped the No. 15 car by three car lengths when the green flag flew and continued to drive away. He finished the night second behind race winner Gravel with Schatz settling for third. It was a good enough run to earn Sweet the championship.
“I’ve never been more happy to run second in my life,” Sweet said.
Meanwhile, Gravel celebrated winning the season finale in victory lane.
“I had the best race car tonight, hands down,” he said. “I could go top, bottom and it showed. I felt like I could get through lap traffic really really good and my job was easy.”
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will begin its 2020 season Feb. 7-9 at Volusia Speedway Park for the DIRTcar Nationals.
For more info, visit WorldofOutlaws.com.
WoO NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway – Concord, NC
Can-Am World Finals – November 9, 2019
1. 41-David Gravel
2. 49-Brad Sweet
3. 15-Donny Schatz
4. 71-Giovanni Scelzi
5. 1S-Logan Schuchart
6. 11K-Kraig Kinser
7. 83-Daryn Pittman
8. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild
9. 5-Shane Stewart
10. 1A-Jacob Allen
11. 87-Aaron Reutzel
12. 21-Brian Brown
13. 19-Brent Marks
14. 17B-Bill Balog
15. 19P-Paige Polyak
16. 2-Carson Macedo
17. 39M-Anthony Macri
18. 18-Ian Madsen
19. 99-Skylar Gee
20. 48-Danny Dietrich
21. 2M-Kerry Madsen
22. 98H-Dave Blaney
23. 7S-Tim Shaffer
24. 51-Freddie Rahmer
25. 39-Spencer Bayston
26. 11-Zeb Wise
27. 13-Paul McMahan
