Sprint Car Daily: Outlaws at Mississippi Thunder, Gold Cup 71 Opener, Smackdown Preview
Sprint Car Daily: Outlaws at Mississippi Thunder, Gold Cup 71 Opener, Smackdown Preview
Nick CowardNick Coward
, August 20, 2025
00:00
03:05

Outlaws at Mississippi Thunder, Gold Cup 71 Opener, Smackdown Preview

Written & read by Nick Coward.

[INTRO]
“Good morning sprint car fans, it is August 20th, 2025 — let’s fire off!”

1. Outlaw Recap – Mississippi Thunder
“Last night the World of Outlaws made history with their first-ever visit to Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Wisconsin. The high-banked third-mile delivered exactly what fans hoped for: speed, traffic, and a tense finish.

David Gravel controlled most of the way, threading through traffic with precision and looking calm up front, but Buddy Kofoid had other plans. Charging from ninth, Kofoid came alive in the closing laps and nearly pulled off a stunner, closing within a half-second at the checkered flag. Gravel held strong to secure his 12th win of the season and the 115th of his career. Logan Schuchart crossed in third, Bill Balog claimed fourth, and Garet Williamson rounded out the top five.

It was a debut worth the hype — a new stop with a great crowd and a finale that nearly turned into an instant classic.”

2. Gold Cup 71 Begins Today
“From Wisconsin, we turn our eyes west to Chico, California, where the 71st Mike Curb Gold Cup Race of Champions kicks off tonight at Silver Dollar Speedway. The opener is headlined by the John and Robbie Padjen Classic, honoring the family that first brought the Gold Cup to Chico back in 1980. Tonight’s program features the 360 sprint cars racing for a $7,100 top prize and a one-of-a-kind Gold Cup-style trophy. Last year it was Justin Sanders who topped the Padjen Classic, and a strong field will be gunning to add their name to the list of winners.

This race sets the tone for the week, with High Limit Racing’s 410 sprint cars taking over on Thursday and Friday for split preliminaries, before everything funnels into Saturday’s finale where $100,071 will go to the winner. Corey Day, the two-time defending Gold Cup champion, isn’t on track tonight but will join the 410 field tomorrow as he looks to make it three in a row. For fans in Chico, the tradition and the excitement begin tonight.”

3. USAC Smackdown
“Tomorrow night the USAC Smackdown gets underway at Kokomo Speedway. Over the last decade, this three-night showdown has become one of the most anticipated stops on the non-wing calendar. Kokomo’s quarter-mile bullring is famous for its elbows-up action — the kind of place where slide jobs, wheel-to-wheel battles, and late-race drama are all but guaranteed.

Saturday’s finale pays $30,000 to win, making it one of the richest prizes in USAC sprint car racing. Past champions have cemented their names here with career-defining victories, and this year’s field comes in hungry to add their own chapter to Smackdown history.

And whether you’re heading to Kokomo in person or following the races from home, I’ve put together a fan guide with all the essentials to get you ready — you can find the link in the transcript below.”

[OUTRO]
“And that’s today’s sprint-car breakdown for August 20, 2025 — from the Outlaws debut at Mississippi Thunder, to the kickoff of Gold Cup 71, to my new Smackdown fan guide. All relevant links, show notes, and the full transcript are in the description below. If there’s anything I missed or got wrong, please feel free to reach out. Thanks for firing off with me — catch you next time!”

 

 


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ENDS ARTICLE


Sprint Car Daily: Outlaws at Mississippi Thunder, Gold Cup 71 Opener, Smackdown Preview