Logan Schuchart Discusses Freedom To Race PA Speedweek
Logan Schuchart Discusses Freedom To Race PA Speedweek
Logan Schuchart's racing PA Speedweek for the first time since 2013 after the World of Outlaws temporarily lifted exclusivity restrictions.
Logan Schuchart and Shark Racing returned to the Central Pennsylvania area from New Richmond, Wis., around 4:15 p.m. Monday ready to unpack and wind down from their month-long roadtrip and 1,110-mile haul back home.
Actually, Schuchart himself had evening plans, and racing wasn’t among them — particularly because he earned a slump-busting World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series feature victory at Cedar Lake Speedway two nights prior.
“I was about to head to the gym,” the 31-year-old Schuchart started, “and (mechanic) Brendan (Collum) called me and said, ‘Hey, we’re not past Lincoln yet. If you want to race, you can pull to the racetrack and run the car how it was from Cedar Lake.’ ”
During the drivers’ meeting prior to Saturday’s race at Cedar Lake, Schuchart and his fellow WoO campaigners were told the series is temporarily lifting exclusivity restrictions through July 8.
For those unaware, World of Outlaw platinum members are allowed to race four non-series events throughout a season before relinquishing exclusivity benefits. Fast forward to Monday’s fourth-round Pennsylvania Speedweek race at Lincoln Speedway, and Schuchart couldn’t turn down racing four miles from Shark Racing’s headquarters.
“Yeah, I’m down,” Schuchart told Collum. “I’m ready to race.”
Because rainouts have either wiped out or postponed 14 of of the tour’s 45 originally-scheduled races this year, including four of the last six as the series goes on hiatus through July 10, drivers campaigning on the WoO tour have had a case of cabin fever.
“Two races in three weeks is not ideal for race teams in the middle of the summer,” Schuchart said after his sixth-to-fourth run Monday at Lincoln. “I think the Outlaws understand that and teams are kind of asking. It’s not easy for them. I understand their side of things, and building a brand and what the World of Outlaws bring to the table. It’s a tough decision, but I’m glad they’re letting us race.”
According to Schuchart, he and “a few teams were asking” for a temporary lift of the exclusivity restrictions “because the Outlaws knew the situation everybody was in.” For perspective, only three WoO drivers — David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild and Carson Macedo — are among the top-10 money earnings this year.
Half of those 10 are High Limit Racing campaigners with the remaining two Anthony Macri and Danny Dietrich, both being PA Posse freelancers. After striking the richest season in Sprint Car racing history at more than $1.2 million banked, Schuchart’s meager $84,375 so far this year has him 19th in earnings, per sprintcarratings.com.
“Thanks to (WoO series director) Carlton Reimers and (WoO CEO) Brian Carter. The World of Outlaws understand the tough year all the Outlaw teams have had,” Schuchart said. “We’ve had a tough year as far as not having the finishes we want. But everyone has been sitting around. … It’s tough.
“This is a business just like anything else. We’ve been sitting around not bringing in any money and spending a lot. It’s tough. The Outlaws understand that. … Props to them. Proud to be an 11-year World of Outlaw veteran.”
For Schuchart, that now means participating in his first PA Speedweek since 2013, where he can “learn some things” while race in his virtual backyard.
“It’s always nice to come home,” Schuchart said. “We only see fans here twice a year. They enjoy when we come. We’re thankful we get to be here. But it’s just nice to be part of PA Speedweek. I think it’s been over 10 years since I got to run a PA Speedweek race. Just a cool, cool week for Pennsylvania and Sprint Car racing itself. I’m usually watching it or looking on Twitter to seeing what’s going on. It’s cool to be part of it.”
The rest of the week looks like this for Schuchart: Tuesday at Grandview Speedway and Friday at Williams Grove Speedway are races he won’t miss; Thursday at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway and Sunday at Selinsgrove Speedway he’s likely to race; Wednesday at Port Royal Speedway “is a maybe” and Saturday at Port Royal is “a definite no.”
“That’s the plan,” Schuchart said. “The Outlaws said we can race as many as we want. We could race all of them. I have some prior commitments Wednesday and Saturday. It’s not that I don’t like Port Royal. I’d love to go back to Port Royal, especially the finish I had last time I was there. I’d like to go back and get redemption. It’ll be tough to make it to Port Royal.”
Schuchart’s looking forward to generating some momentum above all else. Monday gave him a top-five on the heels of his lone victory of the season thus far. Schuchart hadn’t strung together a podium and top-five finish in back-to-back races since last October at Port Royal Speedway.
But he’s hoping trends like those, along with particulars on his setups, continue to change.
“That’s the main thing. We’re going to keep changing things a little bit to see where we can get better so when we do get back to running Outlaw races, we’re not in the guessing game,” Schuchart. “We’re going after it with what we feel is the right call. No, I feel good. Start sixth, run fourth. You always want to win. But I felt good. If I started up front, I think it would’ve been pretty tough to pass us. But we’re right there.”
2024 PA Speedweek Results
- PA Speedweek Opening Round Results At Williams Grove Speedway
- 2024 PA Speedweek Sunday Results At BAPS Motor Speedway
- 2024 PA Speedweek Monday Results At Lincoln Speedway