FIRST QUARTER NOTES: Schuchart Seeking Consistency

April 7, 2018 – With the calendar turning to April, the first quarter of the 2018 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series is the books and the results weren’t what Shark Racing’s Logan Schuchart was aiming for. The good news is that the second quarter starts tonight and the six-time Outlaw winner is ready to push ahead in his fifth campaign with the top national Sprint car racing circuit.

The 25-year-old driver of the Shark Racing No. 1s Priority Aviation/Ausherman Properties XXX machine took a few minutes to talk about his first eight weeks of racing on U.S. soil.

LS.com: You started your fifth season with the World of Outlaws by setting fast-time at Volusia in the season opener. Unfortunately, your speed early in the night didn’t result in finishes near the the front. How tough is it to get your car not only fast early in the night, which you have to with the Outlaws format, but also fast at the end of the night when the race is on the line?

Logan: “That’s the key racing with the Outlaws. Being able to be good all night. The biggest thing we have to address about our early season is being strong all night. You can’t be falling out of races or having mechanical troubles. It felt great to start the year with the first fast time, but that feeling didn’t last long. A few times we started the night out good and had something slow us down in the feature. We had some bleeder issues in Volusia and that gave us trouble in the first two feature races. And in Las Vegas, I was running in fifth or sixth before I knocked the front end out. We’ve had some chances, but didn’t capitalize on them. Overall, we need to put some full nights together. We have a fast car. You have to qualify well and get through your heat, but you also have to continue getting better in the dash and feature.”

LS.com: You talked a little about Las Vegas. You were in the top-10 the first night before losing a front end during the feature, but you bounced back the second night with one of your patented charges from the back to the front where you had your best finish of the season to date. It had to feel good drive forward in a Feature event?:

Logan: “It always feels to good to pass cars no matter where you are at or where you are starting. That second night in Las Vegas we came from 22nd to eighth, and I was catching the cars in front of us at a pretty good rate and felt like I was much faster than they were. If we were better at the beginning of the night, we could have had a lot better finish. It just goes back to putting a whole night together. That’s the key.”

LS.com: Mother Nature has been a problem this year with six races being affected, four of them canceled and two rescheduled. How tough is it to get yourself and team in a rhythm when you constantly are having shows either canceled or postponed?

Logan: “It’s definitely a lot of sitting around. I don’t think we have sat around this long and not raced. Definitely have a lot of time to think about what you can do with the cars to make it fast, but not a whole of time to try it out and see if you know what you are doing. You just have to be patient. Everyone is in the same position. We did have a lot fun spending time with family over the Easter break. My aunt Robin and her husband Jeff took us around to see some sights and relax. My grandpa and I got to check out LA and that was a blast, but we definitely are ready to be racing as much as we can.”

LS.com: The final two nights of action in California included your second fast time of the season in Stockton and your second top-10 finish at Bakersfield. Stockton had a frustrating end, but you were able to score a top-10 to close the California swing at Bakersfield. Talk about this year’s early-season California run.

Logan: “Racing three nights instead of six or seven really wasn’t what we had in mind. I feel like we were putting a complete night together at Stockton with our setups and the calls that we made with the car as the night went on. It was a really rough track and hard on the race cars. It was really testing the equipment. We had some parts on the front end that didn’t hold up late in the race and it costs us. We were definitely a top-five car and those kind of nights are frustrating. We’re hurting a little bit in the points deal right now, but as long as we keep progressing and start having those complete nights we’ll be able to make up some ground. We’ve got speed and just need to have a complete night and get rolling.”

LS.com: You have welcomed some new partners to your team and had the chance to spend some time with them early in the campaign. How important is it to surround yourself and team with quality people?

Logan: “It’s super important to be surrounded by quality people. We’ve welcomed Ausherman Properties and Priority Aviation to our team this year and they joined a great group that have helped us out for long time like Mark Pell and Mike Palumbo. As well as a lot of great manufacturers that help us put a fast race car out there on the track. We’re really proud of everyone that is part of Shark Racing and honored to represent them. People like Richard and Jennifer Marshall of Priority Aviation are tremendous ambassadors for dirt track racing. They help a lot of teams and drivers out giving a lot people the opportunity to chase a dream. Ausherman Properties is new to the sport and have helped us get our race team some solid help. We’re really thankful for everyone that is involved.”

LS.com: Speaking of quality people you started the season with a pair of new crew members Joe Mooney and Tyler Garber. How have they meshed with you, your grandpa and Jacob?

Logan: “Joe and Tyler have been great additions this year. They are very smart guys and pay attention to details. They worked hard over the winter to have us ready and they have taken a big load off Jacob and I’s shoulders and my grandpa’s too. I think they are going to be a big key to our success this year.”

LS.com: It’s been two weeks since you last raced, but tonight it’s back to action for you as the Outlaws return to Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Arizona. What do you remember about the track?

Logan: “Last year, they changed the track a little bit. I think it was completely different in 2016. I think they widen it out. So we’ve been there twice and it’s been different both times. It was really tricky last year and I know talking to some other people they said it was a weird track too. It seemed to be wet and fast early and then almost immediately went to slick and then rubbered up. I haven’t seen many tracks do that and I’m not sure if had something to do with it being in the desert, being sandy or what. Looking back at our notes, we have a good idea of why we were any as good as we wanted to be and I look forward to getting back there tonight and hope we can get the 1s rolling.”

Next week, we’ll have a recap of Saturday’s race at Queen Creek and look ahead the Outlaws 2018 debut in the Midwest at Jacksonville (IIl.) Speedway and Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana.

SHARK RACING LOOKS TO CONTINUE MOMENTUM IN NODAK

GRAND FORKS, North Dakota – When the checkered flag fell in last Saturday’s Jackson Nationals finale, there was a palpable air of confidence amongst Bobby Allen’s Shark Racing team members. No, Logan Schuchart nor Jacob Allen came out victorious in the $40,000 main event, but both drivers and the crew members that make up the team had a lot to be proud of following a very productive week on the rugged World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Series tour.

 

They have carried that positive vibe with them this week to Grand Forks, North Dakota as they prepare for the 1st Leg of the Gerdau Recycling Northern Tour with stops first at the always exciting River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks Friday and Nodak Speedway in Minot Sunday.

 

Schuchart raced the Drydene Performance Products/Priority Aviation/Mike Palumbo Shark Racing No. 1s to a fifth-place finish in Saturday’s 40-lap finale, his second top-five in this year’s events that pay more than $20,000-to-win. Earlier this year he finished fourth in the Texas Outlaw Nationals at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas. He was in position to make a run to the front in the Jackson Nationals finale because of his charge in Saturday afternoon’s A-main from 12th to fourth. He narrowly missed a position in Saturday night’s Sears Craftsman Dash when Tim Kaeding edged him in the opening heat. In his charge forward in the A-Feature, he was steadily moving forward until the rubber came in just past halfway. He pulled close to fourth-place running David Gravel several times, but ultimately had to stay in line.

 

Saturday’s performance came on the heels of a pair of finishes outside the top-10. Tuesday night, Schuchart and Allen were part of a tremendous three-car battle for victory during the Outlaws debut at Fairbury American Legion Speedway in east central Illinois. Schuchart qualified third, won his heat and finished third in the Dash. In the 40-lap A-Main, he followed leader Sheldon Haudenschild and Allen for most of the race before making a late pass of his teammate to take second. With three laps remaining, he made a bid for the lead in turns three and four on the rubber-down surface. By the time he reached turn two his right rear was going flat. A frustrating end to a solid night for the fifth-year Outlaw driver from Hanover, Pennsylvania. In Friday’s Jackson Nationals opener, he started 15th and finished 18th.

 

“We had a crazy week, but one that ended up on a really good note,” said Schuchart, who currently ranks eighth in the WoO standings. “To battle for a win and then come up with a DNF at the end of the night was frustrating, but I have to give it to this Shark Racing team for continuing to work hard. We were all excited with the news we got Thursday that Drydene Performance Products will be partnering with us for the rest of the year. So excited to represent their brand and work closely with Dave Klinger, Al Johnson and their great sales staff. Things didn’t go well the first night of the Jackson Nationals Friday, but Joe, Benny, Tyler, my pappy and Jacob worked hard, and we have a really good race car right now. I’m really excited to get back on the track this weekend. River Cities is one of my favorite tracks. We’ve run well there in the past, but just haven’t been able to be there at the end. That’s what we are aiming for Friday. And then going to Minot, that’s another place where we’ve had a couple good runs just need to be consistent all night to have a chance.”

 

Returning to Grand Forks is something Schuhcart looks forward to twice a season. From his first laps around the high-banked, quarter-mile oval during his rookie year in 2014, he’s been hooked.   He’s made eight trips to the track and after not qualifying for the main the first night, he’s had some flashes of success with his best result coming in June 2016. That night he sixth, finished second to his teammate in the second heat and won the dash to start on the pole. He led the first 20 laps of the A-Feature and ultimately finished third.

 

“I love River Cities,” said Schuchart, who currently ranks eighth in the standings. “It’s so much fun to race there. We’ve been fast throughout the night, but just not at the end of 40. That’s our goal tonight. The fans up there are so passionate about their racing. We’ve been ready to get back up here since last year. And coming off a good weekend in Jackson, everyone on his team is chomping at the bit to get back on the track.”

 

Schuchart will conclude the weekend in the Roughrider state with his fifth trip to the 3/8-mile, dirt track in Minot. His best result came in August 2016 when he qualified fourth, won the second heat and finished third in the dash. He was in contention throughout the race and finished fourth.

 

Season stats:

WoO Races: 27 Podium Finishes: 5  Top-Fives: 8   Top-10s: 14  

Fast-time Awards: 4 

KSE Hard Charger Awards: 3

Points/Position: 3464/8th

 

 

 

Twice as Nice Down Under for Schuchart

Logan Schuchart does it again, giving him two tallies in the “W column” at Archerfield Speedway. The first win was a rained out make-up for the Boxing Day event at Ausdeck Patios Archerfield Speedway on Thursday night (December 28).

Logan put together a masterpiece of a drive battling with  9-time World of Outlaws Champion Donny Schatz. At the drop of the green Donny Schatz jumped out to the lead with an impressive move from his 3rd place starting position. The race was riddled with a few cautions that allowed Logan to study and hunt down the race leader Donny Schatz. Logan stayed patient and was faster then Schatz at the midpoint of the race and was searching for enough racing room to make the pass.

The space he need showed itself on the topside coming off of turn two when Schuchart stuck the Motorguard, John and Vicki Weatherall owned number USA 1 to outside of Schatz and scooted down the backstretch beating Schatz to turn three.

Logan began to pull away from the field showing his dominance, but again the race was halted by a caution. The caution would allow the best sprint car driver in the world to lock onto Schuchart’s tail tank with 11 laps remaining in the A-Main.

Logan would again prove to be the dominant car and driver on this night leading Schatz to the checkered flag and delivering a significant win on his grandfather’s (Bobby Allen) birthday!

When asked about his thoughts on his first feature win in Australia this is what Logan had to say – “Well John, and Vicki Weatherall let me drive their car. They have had an American in their USA 1 for a lot of years with a lot of different drivers. They are the nicest people who treat me like family and make this a very fun experience. We were good enough to put the whole night together, started ourselves up front. Lost the lead early to Donny but actually played out ok since I was able to move around and try different lines on the racetrack. Had to wait until Donny changed his line just a pinch until I could sneak around the outside. Great to get the first win for the USA 1 in about eight years.”

Logan and the team have gelled quickly due in part to John, and the USA 1 team is now running the same chassis setup that Logan pilots back home in the states for the family-owned Shark Racing Team. They run Tripple X Chassis, and FK Shocks with a comparable engine program, so there are fewer variables for Logan to overcome. He and the team maintain a level of comfort with the cars, so Logan just has to focus on the tracks and stick to his program.

The continuity is paying dividends, and Logan has again collected a top spot the podium to ring in the new year! Logan Schuchart dominated the A-Main event at Ausdeck Patios Archerfield Speedway on Thursday night (January 1st).

Logan would roll from the pole position and never looked back. Logan again showcased a well-prepared racecar and a brilliant drive. The USA 1 topped the 35 car field on New Years Day and will again be in the hunt for the checkered flag January 3rd, when the World Series Sprint Cars make a visit to Brisbane.

Second Stint Down Under Ahead for Schuchart

Hanover, Pennsylvania (December 14) – The holidays are quickly approaching and for World of Outlaws standout Logan Schuchart, he’s counting the hours until December 26. Yes, of course, he’s looking forward to Christmas Day, but he gets back to what he loves most in less than two weeks in Australia at Archerfield Speedway’s Boxing Day Sprintcar International event.

Just a couple days after attending the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis, Schuchart was back at the Shark Racing shop working on his cars for 2018. He took a few minutes to answer some questions, here is what Logan had to share with us.

BD: It’s been a little over a month since you closed out your fourth season of competing with the World of Outlaws. Now that you’ve had a little time to look back how would you asses your 2017 season with the Outlaws?

LS: “I’d say there were a lot of ups and downs. I was happy about parts of it. Obviously when you win races that’s good. We won four races, which doubled our win count from the year before, but we didn’t have the consistency we had in 2016. There are definitely lots of things we need to work on, but also lots that we were happy about. I think our preparation this winter will fix a lot of that.”

BD: After winning twice in 2016, you were able to double your win total last season and all four wins came in dramatic fashion. How big was it for you to:

A) come from 19th and win in California for the first time in your career?
LS: “Any time you win a World of Outlaws race it’s a big deal, but to win one from 19th that kind of put an exclamation point to it. It was exciting to be able to do it that way, especially in California, a place where I seem to struggle sometimes. We really like Keller Auto Speedway. We’ve run decent there in the past. It was a place that I was looking forward to going to before that happened. And now, I definitely look forward to going back.”

B) Drive past Shane Stewart and win at Eldora Speedway for the first time in your career?

LS: “Yeah, I was able to think about that even while we were racing. You know, Shane is always very good at Eldora. Look how good he runs during the Kings Royal and really just any time the Outlaws go there. I knew if were able to pass him for the lead that meant we were fast. There are sometimes you can lead the race and you might not have the best car and you don’t always feel that confident in your car, but when I was able to pass Shane Stewart to me that meant we were pretty fast and that we would have a pretty good chance at winning that race. I knew we were in good shape.”

C) Out-duel Brad Sweet with a next to last lap pass in front of a packed grandstand in Charlotte?
LS: “That was an exciting race too. We started up front, and that was more of a late race deal battling for the lead with another star of our sport Brad Sweet. Brad and the KKR teams always run really well and are always hard to beat. To run up front with them and feel like I was closing in on him the last couple of laps and to be to actually get a second chance at it because I hit the (turn two) wall early in the race. So to get a second chance and be able to pass him with a lap or two to go was exciting for me. It was exciting for the fans. It was great to win another race on a big stage.”

D) Dominate the field and earn your first Canadian World of Outlaws victory?

LS: “Yeah, Oshweken fits me really well. I’ve always liked slick tracks and Ohsweken is one of the slickest racetracks I’ve ever gone to. It has some of the same clay as they have in Northern Ohio or New York. Obviously, Ohsweken being in Canada whatever clay they use seems to be really slick. I grew up racing go-karts at my grandpa’s go-kart track and we would always put powder down and race. Even the go-karts would spin the tires and it would be slick and I have always loved the kind of racing. I think that’s why our team adapts to that pretty quick and I enjoy it. I hope we go back there soon.”

BD: Next week, you will get back be on big plane and head to Australia for the second consecutive season. What do you remember most from your trip last year?

LS: “Definitely the people. They are awesome and love having us over there. I’m lucky that John Weatherall and Vicky Jane give the chance to go over there. They are great people. Everyone of their family members treat me like family. I met a lot of great people. The fans. Other crew members that have spent time working over here in the US. Benny Griffin is an Australian that came over there and worked with us this summer, including the night we won at Ohsweken. I’m looking forward to working with him again in a couple weeks. It’s a chance to be able to race over the winter, when some people don’t have the chance to race and are at home. I get to have a little warmup and knock the rust off in the winter time. I look forward to heading over. It’s pretty similar to our type of racing other than a few small changes. It’s really nice to be able to race in the winter time.”

BD: Talk about the Motorguard car of John Weatherall that you will be driving?

LS: “John Weatherall has had some big names in car over the years like the late Jesse Hockett, Randy Hannagan, Jessica Zemken and Daryn Pittman. He has had the USA Number 1 Motorguard BHR car for Americans to come over and drive for quite some time. I know Brad Hilder helps him out too and his son Ben Hilder drives a team car. We’re happy to be hooked up with XXX Race cars, who helps me out here in the US. We’ll be running a similar car that I do at home. I’ll be bring over some FK Shocks so I should feel right at home. I’m looking forward to it.”

BD: What’s it like racing at Archerfield Speedway? Can you compare it to any track that you race on with the Outlaws?

LS: “I’d say it’s similar to the smaller tracks here like Path Valley and Placerville in California, which is very small. Archerfield is shaped like a very small Williams Grove, but flat. It’s really a lot smaller scale. It feels like you should be racing micros on it. It makes for good racing. You know if someone is not getting too excited, they definitely tear some stuff up there. It’s a small racey track and can be a lot of fun. John and Kathy Kelly do a great job with the track. I actually had the chance to have some down time with them and John Weatherall and his wife. We had a nice meal together. And I can’t say enough about the fans. They welcomed us with open arms and certainly made me feel special to be there.”

BD: You got off to a fast start leading the feature event your first race there after arriving just a few hours prior to the race. What was that experience like?

LS: “The was really the best experience we had other than winning the feature down in Sydney. The long flights. It was the first time I did it. Not getting much sleep and we arrived at 11 in the morning, put a seat in the car, packed the trailer and headed to the track. Before you can really realize what is going on, we were almost winning a race. We were half a track ahead and then we had some engine issues. Those kinds of things happen, but we are going to try and make sure that it doesn’t happen this year. It was pretty cool to have that experience on my first night. Just showing up and almost winning a race.”

BD: You will race three international nights at Archerfield, then three nights with the World Series. What changes when the World Series guys show up?

LS: “It’s like racing in the United States. You go from racing a local show and then the World of Outlaws show up. You have all your really good drivers that run there on a weekly basis that you can tell that they really know what they are doing. They’ve got experience and make good decisions, and they are fast. And then the World Series guys come in there, it’s just like the World of Outlaws coming in town. You know they are the best of the best and you’ve got all your big names like James McFadden, Jamie Veal, Brooke Tatnell and all those guys and it changes the game a little bit. The pace definitely picks up.”

BD: You close your tour in Brisbane with the $20,000-to-win Australian Open. How big would it be to challenge and compete for one of the most prestigious races on the World Series schedule?

LS: “I definitely think we have a chance at it. We were fast at times there last year. I think if the first couple of races go well, we may be in a position to run with those guys up front.”

BD: The trip concludes with the two-night Scott Darley Memorial race at Valvoline Speedway in Sydney. What sort of track is it? Comparable to anything in the United States?

LS: “Sydney has characteristics similar to a few places over here in the US. It gets slick and it also builds a big cushion. It reminds me of something that you would see on the west coast. Maybe even similar to Keller Auto Speedway as far as it being D-shaped, getting slick and having a big cushion. So maybe our experience in California could help us when we go back to Sydney.”

BD: You won a feature event at Valvoline Speedway last during the Darley Memorial. The goal this year has to be picking up another one there?

LS: “Yeah definitely. We want to win the Scott Darley Memorial. That’s the big one. Last year in Sydney, we were fast, but we didn’t run as well as we wanted to the final couple of nights. We were fast, but it’s just like racing here. You have to put yourself in a position in qualifying, start up front and go from there.”

BD: Did you find it helpful last year to go over and get seat time in advance of the World of Outlaws season starting in February?

LS: “Any time you can get experience or seat time it’s beneficial. Like they say, practice makes perfect. It helps you keep your mind fresh. You know sometimes it’s good to take a break to relax your mind a little bit. But there’s nothing like being in a racecar.”

BD: While you are racing in Australia the Shark Racing team will be getting things organized for 2018. Do you notice a change in where you and the team are heading into year five with the Outlaws?

LS: “We’ve never really been in this position over the winter as far as getting cars together and engines together. That’s a testament to my grandpa who works extremely hard and to all of those people that are behind Shark Racing. You know the first year we ran the Outlaws we started out with one car for me, one car for Jacob. One motor for each of us and maybe a half a spare. This year we’ll have a couple cars each ready and couple motors ready where we feel like we are prepared to go attack the World of Outlaws schedule and not just be a car on the racetrack. Actually, go out and race and be competitive.

BD: Good luck and enjoy your time in Australia.

LS: Thank you. We’re excited about where we are right now. Hope everyone has a good holiday season.”

Keep up with his Australian tour by following Logan on social media –

Twitter: @LSchuchart1s, Instagram: Loganschuchart, and
Facebook: logan.schuchart

The Sun Sets on 2017

Well guys and girls, unfortunately, the 2017 Craftsman World of Outlaws Sprint Car Season has come to an end. 2017 was a banner year for the series, with record-breaking attendance and almost 400 different drivers competing along the way.

For Shark Racing it was an up and down ride with the highest highs and the lowest lows. The raw emotion of this season came through in both speeches by Jacob and Logan at the yearend banquet just this past weekend.

Jacob delivered a passionate speech about what it means just to have the chance to race in this prestigious series, Logan commented on the struggles and the growth of the team as a whole.

For Jacob, it was an improved season that saw him compete for wins, set fast times at places like Knoxville, and put on impressive runs collecting multiple KSE Hard Charger Awards. Jacob would wrap up his season 14th in the points standings.

Speaking of Hard Chargers, Logan Schuchart would be awarded the season-long KSE Hard Charger award. Logan’s season would be highlighted with 4 World of Outlaw’s triumphs. A win from the 19th starting position at Keller Speedway, a win at the famed Eldora Speedway, a win at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, and a win north of the border at Oswekeen Speedway.

After a hectic start to the season with the well-documented hauler issues, toter homes breaking down and early season engine issues, the grit and determination of this team and the class and fabric of the racing community shined bright. Most people in the situation that faced Shark Racing this season would have packed it in and headed back home. But team leader and racing legend Bobby Allen couldn’t find the word quit in a dictionary and certainly didn’t teach it to his young drivers or crew members.

Bobby and this team are the perfect examples of the adage if there is a will, there’s a way. With much help from the racing communities the crew got their feet back under them, and by mid-season, they were humming along knocking down wins and showing good speed everytime they unloaded at a race track. Though the team felt some tough stretches, the 2017 season was another class credit at the school of hard knocks, and best believe that Bobby, Jacob, Logan and the gang will be in the best position they could be in when the racing world awakes in Florida come February in 2018.