Inside Line Promotions – BARBERVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2015) – Shark Racing drivers Jacob Allen and Logan Schuchart started the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series with a solid performance last weekend in Florida.
Allen posted a career-best fifth-place qualifying effort on Saturday and Schuchart powered to a trio of top 15s at Volusia Speedway Park during the DIRTcar Nationals, which Shark Racing kicked off last Thursday with an All Star Circuit of Champions event on the fastest half-mile dirt track in the country.
“It was my first time really racing at Volusia,” said Allen, who missed most of last year’s event because of an illness. “I didn’t really know what to expect so you just take it all in. And when you don’t make the A Main you watch those guys and see where you’re supposed to run.”
Allen narrowly missed a transfer into the main events with the All Star Circuit of Champions on Thursday and the World of Outlaws on Friday. However, he used those two nights to springboard him into weekend.
On Saturday, Allen qualified fifth quickest with the Outlaws – his best ever with the series – before closing the night with a 14th-place result in the feature.
“It was definitely a confidence booster for me,” he said. “I had a really hard time qualifying last year. To go out to a track as fast and as big as Volusia is with the Outlaws and other good opponents, I thought it was huge to do well. It showed our cars can be fast and it was a good boost.”
Unfortunately, Allen ended the weekend on Sunday with mechanical woes during the main event, which relegated him to a 23rd-place result.
Schuchart showcased consistency throughout the DIRTcar Nationals. He kicked off the racing last Thursday by transferring through his All Star Circuit of Champions heat race before finishing 13th in the main event.
“It is a big and fast track,” he said. “I would have liked it to have been at least a top 10, but as long as I felt like I was competitive I was happy.”
On Friday, Schuchart missed a feature lock-in position through his heat race by only one spot. However, he rallied for a third-place result in the Last Chance Showdown to transfer into the main event, which he finished 20th.
Schuchart locked directly into the World of Outlaws feature through his heat race on Saturday and by winning the Last Chance Showdown on Sunday. He finished 12th and 13th, respectively, in the main events.
“I’m happy that we improved from last year,” he said. “I felt like we were a little more consistent this year. It was an improvement, but we would have liked it to have been better. We just have some minor adjustments. I look forward to going back next year.”
Shark Racing will return to action March 4-5 at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas for the FVP Outlaw Showdown with the World of Outlaws.
QUICK RESULTS –
JACOB ALLEN: Feb. 12 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 26; Heat race: 10 (9); B Main: 8 (8).
Feb. 13 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 25; Heat race: 8 (7); B Main: 11 (6).
Feb. 14 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 5; Heat race: 4 (3); Feature: 14 (9).
Feb. 15 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 13; Heat race: 6 (5); Feature: 23 (13).
LOGAN SCHUCHART: Feb. 12 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 18; Heat race: 4 (1); Feature: 13 (17).
Feb. 13 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 20; Heat race: 6 (5); B Main: 3 (5); Feature: 20 (18).
Feb. 14 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 17; Heat race: 6 (5); B Main: 1 (1); Feature: 12 (17).
Feb. 15 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 10; Heat race: 3 (1); Feature: 13 (12).
SEASON STATS –
JACOB ALLEN: 9 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 1 top 15, 1 top 20
LOGAN SCHUCHART: 9 races, 0 wins, 1 top five, 1 top 10, 5 top 15s, 8 top 20s
UP NEXT –
March 4-5 at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas for the FVP Outlaw Showdown with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.Shark1s.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SharkRacing1s
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shark-Racing/561570593854948
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Don Ott Racing Engines
Based in York, Pa., Don Ott Racing Engines provides premier sprint car engines to teams across the country. For more information, visit Don Ott Racing Engines on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DonOttRacing?rf=142535825793294.
“Don Ott Racing Engines keeps us alive on the road with their durable motors that compete extremely well,” Jacob Allen said.
Shark Racing would also like to thank Marty Thompson Investments, Pell’s Tire Service, Triple X Race Co., Rich Fogle and Son, DMI Rear Ends, Newman’s Towing & Recovery, AO Designs, CnB Chubby, Bobby Allen’s Speedway 94, Restas.com, YourAutoSourceInc.com, Moose Blocks, Bell Helmets, Wilwood Brakes, Lisa Alwine – Silpada Jewelry, Wings Unlimited, Joe Bear Joan and Michael Palumbo for their continued support.