Sweet Lands Pair of Podium Finishes at Ironman 55

With the first week of August having arrived,  the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series 2023 schedule is past the halfway point. To begin the second half of the season, Brad Sweet and the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 team traveled to Pevely, Mo., for two nights of racing in the highly-anticipated Ironman 55.

Sweet roared onto the 1/3-mile, high-banked dirt oval  in qualifying and set a time of 10.499 seconds, third-fastest of the field. Starting from the pole in his heat race, Sweet commanded the track from the start and held the top spot at the checkers, earning his place in the Fast Pass Dash. The NAPA driver would have a chance to race his top competitors for the best starting positions in the evening’s A-main. After drawing the fifth starting spot for the dash, the Big Cat was able to advance one position to fourth.

When the A-main event was set to go, Sweet lined up on the outside of the second row with his sights set firmly on victory lane. Fans witnessed an intense battle amount the top drivers with Sweet showcasing his skills on the tricky racing surface. When the checkered flag waved, the NAPA No. 49 team solidified their place on the podium, taking home a third-place finish.

Saturday marked the final night of the Ironman 55, and Sweet and the NAPA crew once again focused on results. Clocking a time of 11.032 seconds, Sweet placed fifth overall and set the tone for the fierce competition to follow. The NAPA No. 49 rolled off second in heat race competition but left his competitors behind to take the win, locking Sweet into the Fast Pass Dash.

The dash presented another opportunity for the NAPA team to exhibit its racing prowess. After drawing the unfortunate eighth starting position, the four-time and defending Outlaws champion powered through the field, making calculated passes to ultimately finish fourth. This performance reinforced Sweet’s status as a contender to watch in the main event. Starting from the fourth position in the evening’s featured race, the NAPA driver again showcased his tenacity and precision. Sweet crossed the line in third when the checkered flag dropped, marking a second podium finish at the Ironman 55 and reclaiming the championship points lead.

Start / Finish: 
Friday, Aug. 4: 4 / 3
Saturday, Aug. 5: 4 / 3
Points Standing / Total: 2nd, 6,206 pts. (+14)

Next Race: Thursday, Aug. 10, Knoxville Raceway, Knoxville, IA|
How to Watch or Listen: www.dirtvision.com

NAPA: @NAPARacing
Brad Sweet: @BradSweet49
Kasey Kahne Racing: @KKRdirt