Logan Schuchart Leads All 30 at Cedar Lake; First Win of 2024

Logan Schuchart competing at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, WI (Photo: Trent Gower | World Racing Group)

NEW RICHMOND, Wis. — After having Friday night’s race canceled due to heavy rainfall, the World of Outlaws sprint cars headed to Cedar Lake Speedway to take part in the Independence Spectacular.

On May 4 of 2024, Christopher Thram made a new track record at Cedar Lake with a 10.746 second lap. That record was broken Saturday night by Carson Macedo who pulled off a 10.721 second lap, earning him the track record title and quick time of the night. Macedo’s speed would carry him pretty well throughout the night as he caught up to the leaders pretty early on in the race. 

Logan Schuchart and David Gravel were the front row to kick off the 30-lap main event. At the drop of the green flag, Schuchart shot out to the lead with Gravel right on his heels. Sheldon Haudenschild, who was in third, went after Gravel for second and claimed it from the series points leader coming off of Turn 4.

Gravel, now in third, was feeling the pressure from Macedo now as they raced side-by-side. The two of them swapped spots continuously until Macedo got a little bit loose, giving third to Gravel.

On Lap 5, the first caution of the night came out due to former track record holder, Thram, slowing on the front stretch. This proved to be great for Gravel because he jumped into second ahead of Haudenschild on the restart. Gravel shot ahead of Haudenschild without a second thought and had his sights set on Schuchart in the lead.

Meanwhile, Macedo’s night was far from over because Michael “Buddy” Kofoid was challenging him for fourth. Haudenschild was doing the same thing to Gravel for the runner-up position and was able to get it on the back straight on Lap 8. Two laps later, lap traffic became a factor. However, this did not stop Gravel from giving it all he had to try and get back into that second spot. 

Gravel came off of Turn 4 and punched his car, lifting the entire front end off the ground in a wheelie stance and carried it for the duration of the front stretch. The front of the car finally dropped down when he let off to go into the corner. While that was going on, Giovanni Scelzi and Donny Schatz battled for sixth. 

Schuchart had officially caught up to lap traffic now and was deciding on how to maneuver through it. Haudenschild saw this and decided to take advantage of Schuchart’s struggles. Haudenschild claimed the lead from Schuchart on the back stretch for about half a second before losing momentum and drifting a little behind.

Carson Macedo competing at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, WI (Photo: Trent Gower | World Racing Group)

Schatz and Scelzi, who were running at the edge of the top five, teamed up and went after fourth-place holder Macedo. But just as they were about to split him to see who would come out on top, the red flag was thrown due to Scott Winters flipping in Turn 2, going over the wall and taking down a couple NOS Energy Drink flags. Winters hopped the cushion at the start of Lap 19 and just went end-over-end.

Just as the field was getting going once again after Winters’ car was taken to the pits, Thram spun into the infield, drawing yet another caution. Because of the amount of cautions that had happened thus far, and the amount of laps left in the race, the restart was now going to be single-file.

Schuchart was still vibing in first when they started up again, but Gravel and Haudenschild were going at it again. Gravel was on the low side and Haudenschild ran the top. Kofoid, who was now in fourth, was looking to overtake Gravel for third. Kofoid went low in Turn 3 and almost had him, but just could not get enough power to get past Gravel.

Lap 28 saw Kofoid lose fourth to former champion Schatz because Schatz went high and cut down in front of him. Haudenschild was looking to do the same thing to Schuchart up ahead, but Brooke Tatnell, a lap car, got in Haudenschild’s way and he was not able to put his plan into action.

Schuchart was able to hold on to first to get his first win of the 2024 season and Thram was able to get ninth, even after spinning out. 

“It almost feels like the very first one [win],” said Schuchart on his win. “The smallest thing can make or break your night and this feels really good. Thank you to all my guys and I’m very thankful to be standing here.”