David Gravel etched his name into the sprint car racing history book on Saturday night at Huset’s Speedway as he earned a record $250,000 for winning the final night of the second annual BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by MENARDS.
The quarter million dollar top prize was the biggest winner’s share in World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series history and it was doled out in front of the largest crowd in Huset’s Speedway history.
“It’s good to take some of the boss’s money tonight,” said Gravel, who drives for Huset’s Speedway owner Tod Quiring and was running a special BillionAuto.com paint scheme throughout the four-day event. “The crowd was amazing. It just shows you when a track owner commits to trying to build an event here at a race track it pays off. He’s paying big money. There’s big fans. It was a great event. Mother Nature tried to mess it up, but it honestly made the track okay.”
Rico Abreu was second and Kyle Larson third.
“We were kinda mediocre all week to be honest,” said Abreu, who was impressive charging from eighth to third in the King of the Hill event. “Ricky (Warner) really made a big swing at our car and made some big changes, which allowed us to get in the hunt.
“Unbelievable event, Tod and everybody apart of his organization. I know Doug Johnson does an unbelievable job here. The place was packed Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night to see the grandstands full is heathy for sprint car racing.”
Larson recorded a third-place result as he finished a car length behind Abreu.
Schuchart placed fourth and Carson Macedo rounded out the top five.
Gravel, Giovanni Scelzi, Larson, Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild and Abreu each won a qualifier to kick off the night.
Following the rain delay, Brooke Tatnell claimed the C Main in the DeWall Racing No. 16, Buddy Kofoid emerged victorious during the King of the Hill event and Tyler Courtney picked up the Last Chance Showdown triumph.
It was announced before Saturday’s show that the Huset’s High Bank Nationals will return next year. The four-day event will run June 19-22, 2024, with the finale paying $250,000 once again.