While the on-track racing has been exceptional thus far in 2019 for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, the big winner, unfortunately, has been Mother Nature. In a near-repeat performance of 2018, the first month-and-a-half of the season has been plagued by rain and inclement weather. A total of six drivers have been victorious this year in the first seven races of the season, but rain has claimed the same number of victories as well.

One of the biggest storylines heading into this season was a trio high-profile drivers who were with new teams. Daryn Pittman moved from Kasey Kahne Racing to the famed No. 83 for Roth Motorsports, a ride that carries a lot of prestige, along with heavy expectations of wins. Shane Stewart shifted to the No. 5 for the CJB Motorsports team, while David Gravel joined forces with the No. 41 Jason Johnson Racing squad.

Pittman charged right out of the gate, sweeping both nights of racing at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida. That vaulted the 2013 series champion into the point leads, which he still holds as the West Coast Swing winds up. This marks the first-time that Roth Motorsports has led the Outlaws standings during the West Coast Swing, though Pittman is not putting too much stock into that.

“I try not to focus on them (points) too much, just focus on each race for what it is and try to win races,” said Pittman. “It’s definitely always good to be up front. It gives everyone something to talk about, but it’s definitely not something we’re really focused on right now. Obviously, it’s better to lead than to be chasing. And I do know it will mean something to (car owners) Dennis and Teresa (Roth) for us to be leading.”

Stewart and Gravel are still getting up to speed in their new teams. Stewart, who came out of the box strong, winning with the All Stars at Volusia, was leading at Stockton, when a shredded tire sent him to the work area. He has shown plenty of speed this season, but bad luck has hampered a few potential top-five finishes. Gravel also has had more than his fair of bad luck thus far in 2019, with just a trio of top-10 finishes in seven starts. Look for both Stewart and Gravel to continue to gel with their new teams and contend for wins as the series works its way back to the Midwest.

Another of the other key storylines this season would be how 10-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz adapted to some changes to his Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) team, including having longtime Car Chief Steve Swenson move into the role of Crew Chief. Schatz seems to have adjusted just fine as he was victorious in the opener at Las Vegas and is the only driver who has finished in the top-10 in each and every one of the first seven races of the season. The more things change, the more they seem to be the same for Schatz and TSR.

Logan Schuchart and the Shark Racing team have been masters of slick racing surfaces the last five seasons and showed at the Stockton Dirt Track that they can also contend on heavy and rough tracks, picking up the win. Schuchart currently is fourth in points, which is the highest position he has been in his career with the Outlaws. With added back from Drydene Performance Products this year, the Pennsylvanian looks to be in position to have a career-year.

Ian Madsen, who has always been fast on bigger tracks, has shown a vast improvement at bullrings this season. The Aussie won at Thunderbowl Raceway and followed that up with another podium finish at Silver Dollar Speedway.

Brad Sweet has been his consistent self to start the season and is knocking on the door of his first win of the year. He led 20 laps in the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway en route to a runner-up finish. Sweet has six top-10 finishes in seven races, with five of those being top-five showings. The Californian is also near the top of the standings as he chases his first Outlaws title and has gotten to race against his boss, Kasey Kahne, at each of the first seven races this season. Kahne, who is getting back up to speed in a sprint car, has qualified for the main event in six of the seven races to start the season.

Just one driver is contending for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this season and that is Carson Macedo. The young Californian picked up a win in his home state at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. Ironically, that was the site of his first-career Outlaws win, back in 2014. Macedo has firmly established himself among the top-five in points in his first season aboard the No. 2 for Kyle Larson Racing.

Jason Sides has campaigned a two-car effort on the West Coast, with Tim Kaeding also driving a No. 7S. The pairing came out of the box strong, with Kaeding earning a podium finish in Las Vegas. Kaeding has been in contention for top-five finishes in all five of his starts, with some bad luck, hindering a trio of those races. Sides has also benefited from the pairing, picking up a couple of top-10 finishes already this season and should easily eclipse his total of seven top-10 runs last year.

Kraig Kinser, Brent Marks and Jacob Allen have all gotten off to slow starts this season. Each is still in search of their first top-10 finish of the year. Sheldon Haudenschild has also had a tough start to the season, picking up just two top-10 finishes so far, with a podium finish at Thunderbowl Raceway the best of the lot.

The level of competition has been very high this season on the Outlaws as teams continue to elevate their programs. As long as Mother Nature decides to cooperate, an epic season could be in the making, as the top-three in points are separated by just 10 markers,