Michael ‘Buddy’ Kofoid of Penngrove, Calif. earned his first career World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series win in the opening round of the inaugural Huset’s High Bank Nationals Thursday.
Kofoid was one of three different leaders throughout the $15,000-to-win, 35-lap World of Outlaws main event. The feature went non-stop after a red flag on the initial start of the race when several drivers tangled exiting turn two.
Polesitter Brock Zearfoss (Jonestown, Penn.) led the first three laps before Kofoid, who started on the outside of the front row, used the bottom in turns one and two to drive into the top spot. Meanwhile, James McFadden (Alice Springs, NT, Australia) advanced into third place on Lap 10 and into second place on Lap 12. A slide job in turns one and two on Lap 20 gave McFadden the lead, but Kofoid powered around him on the cushion during the ensuing lap.
Kofoid then pulled away during the final 15 laps to win by 2.177 seconds during only his 16th career start with the series.
Parker Price-Miller (Kokomo, Ind.) passed Zearfoss for the final spot on the podium in the closing laps. Hunter Schuerenberg (Sikeston, Mo.) rounded out the top five.
Brooke Tatnell (San Souci, NSW, Australia) was 18th in his qualifying group in the DeWall Racing No. 16 and then won his heat and 16th in the A Main.
Kaleb Johnson (Sioux Falls) was 17th in qualifying, second in his heat and fifth in the Last Chance Showdown. Matt Wasmund (Jackson) was 25th in qualifying, ninth in his heat and seventh in the Showdown.
Skylar Prochaska (Lakefield) placed 14th in qualifying, fourth in his heat and 13th in the Showdown.
Kofoid is the points leader after the first night with 442 points, followed by McFadden (441), Price-Miller (433), Zearfoss (431) and Schuerenberg (431).
The second round of the Huset’s High Bank is Friday. Saturday’s finale pays $100,000 to win.
Fairmont
The first of five nights of racing in the USRA Summer Shootout was held Wednesday at Fairmont Raceway.
Kris Jackson (Lebanon, Mo.) won the B-Mods feature, with Gabriel Hodges (Lebo, Kan.) second, Ryan Gillmore (Springfield, Mo.) third, Shadren Turner (St. Joseph, Mo.) fourth and Dan Hovden (Decorah) fifth.
The top five in the Hobby Stocks feature were Dylan Clinton (West Union), Dylan Nelson (Adel), Dustin Gulbrandson ( Sioux Falls) and Levi Vander Weide (Sioux Falls).
Jason Cummins (New Richland, MN) was the winner of the Modifieds feature, followed by Don Gerritsen Jr. (Rock Rapids), Josh Ruby (Lakota), Roger Nielsen (Fairmont) and Lyle Sathoff (Sherburn).
In the Stock Cars feature, Derek Green (Granada) was first, followed by Kyle Falck (Decorah), Chanse Hollatz (Clear Lake), Bill Crimmins (Fort Dodge) and Todd Staley (Webster City).
Jaedon Erickson (Welcome) won the Tuners feature, with Alan Lahr (Nicollet) second and Dale Gatton (Fairmont) third.
The second night of the USRA Summer Shootout was held at Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids Thursday.
Dustin Gulbrandson (Sioux Falls) won the Hobby Stock feature, Shadren Turner (St. Joseph, Mo.) was the B-Modified winner and Chanse Hollatz (Clear Lake) was the Stock Car winner.
The series continues Friday at Sports Park Raceway in Fort Dodge.
Saturday the series goes top Hamilton County Speedway and the final event is Sunday at Mason City Motor Speedway.