Larson returns to defend title at Brad Doty Classic

Kyle Larson made history at last year's Brad Doty Classic by becoming the first back-to-back winner in the prestigious sprint car race. The NASCAR star can make some more history at Tuesday night's World of Outlaws show at Attica Raceway Park. If Larson wins again, he will join Donny Schatz as the Doty's only four-time winners. Larson has confirmed that he will race at the 36th annual Brad Doty Classic. He led all 40 laps in the A-Main last year, holding off Sheldon Haudenschild. Carson Macedo, Shatz and David Gravel rounded out the top five. Doty, a former World of Outlaws star who won 18 races on the top sprint car circuit, has been co-promoter of the race since 2005 — the year the Outlaws began sanctioning the race. "It was growing into a pretty good event," Doty said. "When the World of Outlaws began sanctioning the race it really took off. It's really satisfying to see what happens, and the emotions of some of the drivers who have teared up in Victory Lane." Doty, who lives in Apple Creek in Wayne County, was paralyzed in a wreck at Eldora Speedway in 1988. The first Brad Doty Classic was held in 1989 at Attica — one year after the track opened — as a way to honor the popular driver. Some of the biggest names in the sport have won the race, starting with the legendary Steve Kinser in '89. Doty has been watching weather reports closely this week and is hoping for clear skies next Tuesday. "It's taken a lot of years to get to this point and I'm very proud and excited when it rolls around," he said. "It's very nerve-wracking when the forecast isn't favorable because we've literally put months into it." Doty, who turns 67 later this month, will be front and center at Attica. He covers plenty of ground on his motorized scooter and will present the $15,000 winner's check, a trophy and a custom Simpson helmet to the winner. "My role is to meet and greet fans, talk to sponsors and go to the sponsor dinner," he said. "I roll through the pits and try to thank as many teams as I can for coming. I have a lot of skin in the game." Larson, who was occupied with the Indianapolis 500 for much of the spring, has raced only three times on the Outlaws circuit this year with no wins and two top-five finishes. Gravel is the points leader and has won nine races. Haudenschild has seven wins. Doty is glad that Larson will be back to defend his title. Larson also won the Doty in 2020 and 2022. "He's been good about supporting the event," Doty said. "There are people who get tired of the same guy winning and they might be there to root against him. There are some that might come to root for him. "But the guys he's racing against run 80 to 100 races a year in a sprint car and he runs about 20. Technically, they should have the advantage, but he's a phenomenal talent, no doubt about it." As of Friday afternoon some reserved seats ($40) remained. General admission tickets ($38) can be purchased at the track on Tuesday. Pit passes are $45 and teens 11-17 can get in for $20. The grandstands can seat about 5,000 fans. "It gets bigger and better every year," said Justin Liskai, who took over this year at director of operations at the track. "We have more sponsors coming on board and more people wanting to get involved. I've been around it for a long time. It's grown into not just a race, but an event." Larson's car drew big crowds in the pits last year and some fans were able to get autographs and take photos with the popular driver. But fans were respectful and there are no plans for extra security around Larson. "Sometimes we might have one of our sheriffs go back there and check," Liskai said. "People have to pay to get into the pits so there aren't quite as many people in the pits. He goes to a lot of dirt tracks and people respect him. He's here to race. When he's not racing, maybe they'll go for an autograph." Gates will open at 3 p.m. Tuesday with hot laps at 6 and racing at 7:30. About 50 cars are expected to compete. The Outlaws run an organized show that consists of four heat races, the C-Main, B-Main, trophy dash and 40-lap A-Main. The entire racing card usually lasts about two hours. From Attica, the Outlaws will head to Eldora in west-central Ohio for the lucrative Knight Before the Kings Royal on Friday and the Kings Royal on Saturday. The Kings Royal pays $175,000 to the winner. "A lot of people from around the country take vacation the entire week," Liskai said. "They'll start with us on Tuesday and head down to Eldora." Liskai, 34, has been working at Attica since he was 16. His father, Brian, handles announcing duties and public relations for the track. Justin Liskai was named director of operations in January and wants to continue ARP's storied legacy with an eye on adding more events. The World of Outlaws, who also raced at the one-third mile dirt track in the spring, certainly qualify as an "event." "I've been taking phones calls from all around the country who are coming to our race," Liskai said. "They're like, 'We watch it on TV all the time on DirtVision. We can't wait to get there.' Sometimes it gives you goose pumps. "I started cleaning up trash, running the scoreboard and taking tickets back in 2006. It's kind of a dream job. I get to work in racing and see all the people that I've known for years. It's a lot of fun." ----- Brad Doty Classic Winners Attica Raceway Park 1989 – Steve Kinser 1990 – Jack Hewitt 1991 – Bobby Allen 1992 – Rained Out 1993 – Mark Keegan 1994 – Danny Smith 1995 – Randy Kinser 1996 – Dale Blaney 1997 – Tyler Walker 1998 – Jeff Shepard 1999 – Butch Schroeder 2000 – Kelly Kinser 2001 – Danny Smith (2) 2002 – Alvin Roepke 2003 – Dean Jacobs 2004 – Greg Wilson 2005 – Stevie Smith Limaland Motorsports Park 2006 – Joey Saldana 2007 – Jac Haudenschild 2008 – Jason Meyers 2009 – Steve Kinser (2) 2010 – Dale Blaney (2) 2011 – Donny Schatz 2012 – Kerry Madsen 2013 – Donny Schatz (2) 2014 – Paul McMahan 2015 – Rained Out Attica Raceway Park 2016 – Donny Schatz (3)2017 – David Gravel2018 – Donny Schatz (4)2019 – Brock Zearfoss2020 – Kyle Larson2021- Spencer Bayston2022- Kyle Larson (2)2023- Kyle Larson (3)