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Something had to change for Logan Schuchart | Daily 3-27-2025
They contended for a championship. They won a million dollar sprint car race. But something needed to change for Logan Schuchart and Shark Racing. We'll dive in today, plus what to watch this weekend, and more. Let's go!
It's Thursday, March 27th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.
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If we look back over the last decade of sprint car racing, there are really few better stories than that of Shark Racing. Two traveling World of Outlaws sprint cars out of one trailer starting in 2014. A lot of folks figuring they'd never make it out of California in the spring still on tour. Fast forward to now though, they've got two full fledged racing operations, they were victorious in the million dollar race at Eldora in 2023, and the 1S and the 1A win races every single year. For Logan Schuchart specifically, he rose all the way to championship contender, with that magical 2020 season where he won seven times, and stayed consistent all the way to the end, finishing second to Brad Sweet in the title fight by just 46 points. It felt then like they had really figured things out, and I remember wondering if this would be that pivotal season for Schuchart's career that really launched him to an improbable perennial championship contending situation. But while for the next three seasons they did continue winning seven or eight races a year, that same consistency just wasn't there. It looked like maybe that shortened 2020 season was an outlier where that team was just able to capitalize on circumstances. Sponsorship got better, they had a decent amount of winnings and solid points finishes, but maybe this was just their ceiling. I even remember having those "what if" conversations with sprint car friends about what would Schuchart's career look like if he left Shark and joined say a TSR, or a Big Game. And then came 2024. The average finish was still solid at 8.5, but some of the speed was suddenly missing. Schuchart's average feature start dipped, and he was needing to pass a lot more cars come feature time to get those top tens. Just a single Outlaw victory, at Beaver Dam in June, and his worst championship finish since 2017. There were some bright spots, including the High Limit win at Eldora, and the two PA Speedweek scores. But this team clearly didn't have what they needed to contend with the David Gravels, and Buddy Kofoids, and Carson Macedos. This team's scrappiness and frugality helped them survive every year, but now maybe it was what was holding them back. Logan and Jacob often served as their own crew chiefs, with the help of Bobby Allen, and their dedicated crews. And needing to drive and make the calls adds a layer of pressure to a race night. Coming into 2025 though, both cars have added crew chiefs, and for Logan especially, something seems to have been unlocked. Kyle Pruitt's name wasn't one I'd heard much, and it certainly made me wonder what he could do coming over from McCandless. This wasn't a Philip Dietz, or Ricky Warner, or Cody Jacobs, or a more well known guy. But he and Schuchart have gelled quickly, and the 1S is a serious contender again. Had it not been for running out of fuel late at Volusia back in March, this team would be looking at likely 12 top eight finishes in 12 races. They'd be second in the standings only 60 points back, and matching Gravel's top ten scoring pace. We've seen just this week dirt late model driver Mike Marlar talk about how nice it was at Atomic and Brownstown to have Tim Douglas from Infinity Chassis basically serve as crew chief and take some of that pressure off. And having a guy around who can take some of that burden off Schuchart on a night-to-night basis is paying off. Pruitt has talked a few places about doing some things different with engines, and that they are better prepared and more organized in the past. And that has turned into speed. Schuchart is qualifying a full three positions better on average, and starting five positions better on average in features. Even with the 17th at Volusia, this team's average finish is 5.42. Without it, they'd be in the fours. That's also a massive improvement. Schuchart still hasn't won a sprint car race since last July, and he's yet to lead laps this season, but at this point it feels like it's only a matter of time. In a season where David Gravel and Brad Sweet very much look set to continue their championship dominance, a guy like Schuchart and this new look 1S team are providing us some hope that maybe it won't be a complete runaway on the Outlaw side. The Outlaws are still in the midwest this week, taking on Lawton Speedway on Friday and 81 Speedway on Saturday.
In other weekend sprint car action, High Limit beings their trek back east with two races at Central Arizona. Four different winners in four races, and we'll see if that keeps up. Some big names are looking for their first wins of 2025, including Rico Abreu, Tyler Courtney, and Brent Marks. We'll see who else makes the trip to Arizona, as there are other west coast options this weekend, including the Sprint Car Challenge Tour at Placerville. Dominic Scelzi, who is currently fifth in the High Limit standings, is one driver who is headed to Placerville, but we know that Kaleb Montgomery will be in Arizona.
Elsewhere, the POWRi 410 season finally gets rolling at the Texas Motor Speedway dirt track. This will be a co-sanction with the Elite Outlaw series. I still think Ayrton Gennetten is the favorite for that POWRi title. Jumping back to California real quick, next week's NARC race at Stockton has been cancelled because an electrical fire has left the grandstands without power. And that situation won't be rectified until the following week. So just one NARC show next weekend, Friday at Ocean.
Late model fans will be focused on regional action over the next few days. The MARS sanctioned Nippy 50 though will look a lot like a national touring event, with names like Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton Jr., Ryan Gustin, Garrett Alberson, and more expected to race. RTJ the defending event winner, with Pierce taking last year's prelim win. $10,000 and $15,000 to win, and this also kicks off the MARS season.
In Mississippi, the Hunt the Front series will be at Whynot Motorsports Park for $8000 and $12,000 to win races. Ricky Weiss leads the too early point standings after just a single race. This one should draw a lot of cars, including all the HTF full timers, but the southeastern based teams do have another option with the Spring Nationals at Buckshot and East Alabama. Chris Madden and Cody Overton already with Spring Nationals wins so far, and Ethan Dotson the championship leader currently.
This weekend's Comp Cams races in Texas and Arkansas have been rained out, and the Northern All Stars will be at Florence Y'all for $10,000 to win on Saturday.
And for you modified fans, check out the USMTS at Lucas Oil Speedway for the King of America. Racing starts tonight, with $20,000 on the line for the Saturday finale. Super tight championship battle so far, with Rodney Sanders out front. The top ten though separated by just 64 points. Jim and Joe Chisholm, and Kyle Strickler already winners, and Stormy Scott makes his return to full time modified competition this weekend.
That's the Daily show for this week. Make sure to keep up with your weekend streaming options over at dirtrackr.com/watchtonight.
Hope you guys have a great Thursday out there, we'll see you back here on Sunday!