David Gravel Wins Brad Doty Classic; Tenth Victory of the Year

Kyle Larson, David Gravel and Donny Schatz in Victory Lane at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio. (Photo: Trent Gower | World Racing Group)

ATTICA, Ohio — In preparation for the King’s Royal starting on Wednesday with High Limit Racing, the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars headed to Attica Raceway Park to take part in the Brad Doty Classic on Tuesday night.

Carson Macedo and David Gravel led the stacked field to the green flag to kick off the 40-lap feature. Macedo shot out to the lead coming out of Turn 2 with Gravel right behind him. 

Before the first lap could be completed, a critical caution came out. Sheldon Haudenschild was trying to go to the inside of Giovanni Scelzi and made contact. This caused Haudenschild’s right rear to go flat, resulting in the car spinning out. While spinning out, Haudenschild collided with a couple of different cars including Skylar Gee. Gee ended up hitting Donny Schatz, who suffered a broken nose wing. Schatz opted not to go into the pits to get it repaired though, and stayed out with the injured wing.

Just as Kyle Larson was getting into a good battle with Gravel for second, another caution came out due to a slew of cars getting sideways in Turns 1 and 2. Although Schatz was not involved in the wreckage, he pushed the infield tractor tire where it needed to go, helping the track crew out and saving time so that the race could get underway quicker.

The race got back underway fairly quickly and Larson immediately went after Gravel. They raced side-by-side for a little bit, until Larson finally passed him on the bottom coming out of Turn 4 on Lap 3.

A few laps later, Larson had his sights set on Macedo. Keeping with the bottom side of the track, Larson went low going into Turn 3 and slid up in front of Macedo coming out of Turn 4. Gravel was right there though, and made it a three-wide battle down the front stretch for the lead. Larson kept the high side going into the next corner and lost both positions because he went too high and got loose by hopping the cushion, putting himself back in third.

On Lap 14, Logan Schuchart passed Larson on the bottom for third and got the spot coming out of Turn 3, but Larson charged forward to go side-by-side with Schuchart at the line. Larson got third back down the backstretch. Schuchart went side-by-side with Larson in the next corner but just could not manage to get back into the third place position.

Logan Schuchart competing at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio. (Photo: Trent Gower | World Racing Group)

The lead was taken over by David Gravel at the end of Lap 17. Gravel got on the bottom of Macedo racing down the back straightaway and went to the bottom as they entered the corner. Gravel kept to the bottom and was able to get in front of Macedo for the lead coming out of Turn 4.

Lap 22 saw Schuchart go after Macedo for second. He got in front of him for a moment coming out of Turn 4, but Macedo was right there to go side-by-side down the front straightaway. As they went through the next set of turns, Macedo got by Schuchart for second going down the back chute, but Schuchart returned the favor in Turn 3.

Macedo lost third to Larson coming into Turn 1 three laps later, but Schatz was right there and seized an opportunity to advance. Schatz went to the bottom and got Macedo coming down the back stretch and continued his momentum into the corner to try to get Larson for third. He did not quite make it to next to Larson, but he was right there, ready to charge again.

On Lap 27, Larson dropped over the banking of Turn 2 handing the positions back to Schatz and Macedo, placing them in second and third. Schuchart got a flat tire and had to go in a lap before, ending his night and any dreams of winning.

For the duration of the race, Gravel maintained the lead with Schatz coming home in second after racing the entirety of the event with a broken nose wing, followed by Larson, Macedo and Corey Day.

“I was just biding my time,” said Gravel about his race strategy. “I was trying to figure out what the best line was before I could get the lead because you’re just guessing out there. We unloaded pretty well, didn’t really feel good in qualifying but it feels really good to get number ten of the year.”