Logan Schuchart took the lead on the eighth lap and went on to a commanding win in the finale of the 43rd annual AGCO Jackson Nationals at Jackson Motorplex Sunday and claim the $50,000 first-place prize.
Schuchart won the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event by more than four seconds, lapping half of the 24-car field.
It was also the last event in The Showdown, a six-race series over eight days that included the three nights of the Jackson Nationals after three nights at Huset's. There were five different winners during the six race nights.
Schuchart had the lead on the start of the 35-lap feature, but a caution on the opening lap brought about a complete restart.
David Gravel capitalized by darting from third into the lead after hitting the bottom in turns one and two and executing a slide job on Schuchart in turns three and four.
Gravel led the first seven laps before the second (and final) caution came out on the eighth lap when Donny Schatz, who was running fifth, stopped on the track. Gravel chose the inside lane for the double-file restart, but didn’t launch into the lead when the green flag was waved. Gravel and Schuchart stayed side by side throughout three quarters of the lap before Gravel slid across the track in turns three and four. Schuchart turned underneath the slide job and narrowly led the lap.
Schuchart dominated the remainder of the race.
“You never know how long you should push,” he said. “This is probably the best track we’ve had all week and it was during the day. The other night I started to be a little conservative to conserve tires and then Kerry (Madsen) blows right by me.”
Gravel finished second, 4.454 seconds behind Schuchart.
World of Outlaws points leader Brad Sweet finished third, Madsen fourth and Carson Macedo fifth.
Gravel, James McFadden, and Sheldon Haudenschild each won a qualifier. Schuchart was the King of the Hill winner.
Aaron Reutzel, who won the inaugural Huset’s 50 on Tuesday at Huset’s Speedway, had an opportunity to win a $100,000 bonus if he also captured the Jackson Nationals finale. He finished 15th in the A Main on Sunday.
After a week off, Jackson Motorplex will host the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and the Tri-State Late Models July 9-10.
The next sprint car show in Jackson is the Midwest Sprint Touring Series/Midwest Power Series on July 16.