National Sprint Tour
Encyclopedia
The National Sprint Tour was a United States sprint car racing
league. It formed in 2005 as a rival to the World of Outlaws
. The series folded after one season. The series was started by Brownfield Promotions, Inc. of Snohomish, Washington
. The series featured 410 winged sprint cars
. After the death of Fred Brownfield, the series was bought by Don Lamberti and Lonnie Parsons (#6 Casey's General Store), Guy Stockbridge (#14 Elite Racing), and Steve Kinser
(#11 Quaker State).
Notable former drivers in the NST included 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser
(Steve Kinser Racing), Danny Lasoski
(Roth Motorsports), and Tim Kaeding (Previously Steve Kinser Racing). Danny Lasoski won the inaugural NST championship.
In August 2003, Ted Johnson announced the sale of the World of Outlaws to Boundless. After the sale, Boundless (now known as DIRT Motorsports) completed a series of acquisitions of race tracks and added late model racing under the WoO name and big block modified racing, and began signing teams to a new concept where a set number of teams would appear at every race, earning special bonuses (the "Mean 15" for the Sprint Car Series). In September 2006, under new management DIRT announced that it was moving its headquarters to Charlotte, North Carolina
in 2007.
Some drivers were angered by WoO's contract with The Outdoor Channel
television contract being unfriendly to some contestants given the limited exposure provided by the Outdoor Channel. Noted driver Danny Lasoski
mentioned the lack of media coverage since MTV's mistreatment of the World of Outlaws (see American Speed Association
).
In late 2005, the Richard Petty Driving Experience attempted to organize a rival tour to the Outlaws, and gained support from Tony Stewart
. While this effort failed, Brownfield Promotions, a Northwest-based track owner and sanctioning body of lower-level sprint cars in that region, assumed control and contracts of the stillborn Petty tour, renamed it the National Sprint Tour, and began its 2006 season.
(#11 Quaker State) for $250,000. Since Brownfield had only 2 months to put together a 2006 schedule, the schedule had only 45 dates.
There was intense speculation in October 2006 about the future of the series. The NST had not announced a racing schedule for 2007, and most of the prominent industry promoters decided to sanction World of Outlaws events. Prominent drivers Danny Lasoski
and Steve Kinser
announced that they would be racing full time with the World of Outlaw beginning with the 2007 season. The World of Outlaws announced it would be nationally broadcast on the Speed Channel and ESPN2 in 2007. NST announced over the 2006-2007 offseason that it would fold as a national tour, while selling its remaining Northwest-based tour, now the Northwest Sprint Challenge Series.
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
league. It formed in 2005 as a rival to the World of Outlaws
World of Outlaws
The World of Outlaws is an American motorsports sanctioning body. The body sanctions two major national touring series. It is best known for sanctioning a national tour of sprint cars. It later purchased a national tour of late model stockcars called the World of Outlaws Late Model Series...
. The series folded after one season. The series was started by Brownfield Promotions, Inc. of Snohomish, Washington
Snohomish, Washington
Snohomish is a city in Snohomish County founded by the british, Washington, United States. The population was 9,098 at the 2010 census. The mayor of Snohomish is Karen Guzak, and the City Manager is Larry Bauman...
. The series featured 410 winged sprint cars
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
. After the death of Fred Brownfield, the series was bought by Don Lamberti and Lonnie Parsons (#6 Casey's General Store), Guy Stockbridge (#14 Elite Racing), and Steve Kinser
Steve Kinser
Steve Kinser , is a professional sprint car racer. He has won 20 championships in the World of Outlaws series, and currently drives the #11 Bass Pro Shops car. Kinser left the World of Outlaws in 2006 to compete with the National Sprint Tour series, but returned to the World of Outlaws for the...
(#11 Quaker State).
Notable former drivers in the NST included 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser
Steve Kinser
Steve Kinser , is a professional sprint car racer. He has won 20 championships in the World of Outlaws series, and currently drives the #11 Bass Pro Shops car. Kinser left the World of Outlaws in 2006 to compete with the National Sprint Tour series, but returned to the World of Outlaws for the...
(Steve Kinser Racing), Danny Lasoski
Danny Lasoski
Danny "The Dude" Lasoski is a race car driver from Dover, Missouri.Most of his experience is in the World of Outlaws series, winning the WoO championship in 2001, and finishing second four times, in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2004. He won the premiere event in sprint car racing, the Knoxville...
(Roth Motorsports), and Tim Kaeding (Previously Steve Kinser Racing). Danny Lasoski won the inaugural NST championship.
Development of the NST
In 2003, changes in sprint car racing began when Boundless Motorsports, a Texas-based organization, had purchased the leading organization of dirt-track modifieds, Drivers Independent Race Tracks ("DIRT"), from Glenn Donnelly. Boundless stated their goal was to consolidate dirt track racing of all classes to provide consistent rule and equipment standards and to create a national platform for this popular grass roots sport.In August 2003, Ted Johnson announced the sale of the World of Outlaws to Boundless. After the sale, Boundless (now known as DIRT Motorsports) completed a series of acquisitions of race tracks and added late model racing under the WoO name and big block modified racing, and began signing teams to a new concept where a set number of teams would appear at every race, earning special bonuses (the "Mean 15" for the Sprint Car Series). In September 2006, under new management DIRT announced that it was moving its headquarters to Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
in 2007.
Some drivers were angered by WoO's contract with The Outdoor Channel
The Outdoor Channel
Outdoor Channel is an American speciality channel focused on the outdoors, offering programming that includes hunting, fishing, Western lifestyle, off-road motorsports and adventure. The network can be viewed on multiple platforms including high definition, video-on-demand, as well as on a . ...
television contract being unfriendly to some contestants given the limited exposure provided by the Outdoor Channel. Noted driver Danny Lasoski
Danny Lasoski
Danny "The Dude" Lasoski is a race car driver from Dover, Missouri.Most of his experience is in the World of Outlaws series, winning the WoO championship in 2001, and finishing second four times, in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2004. He won the premiere event in sprint car racing, the Knoxville...
mentioned the lack of media coverage since MTV's mistreatment of the World of Outlaws (see American Speed Association
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
).
In late 2005, the Richard Petty Driving Experience attempted to organize a rival tour to the Outlaws, and gained support from Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
. While this effort failed, Brownfield Promotions, a Northwest-based track owner and sanctioning body of lower-level sprint cars in that region, assumed control and contracts of the stillborn Petty tour, renamed it the National Sprint Tour, and began its 2006 season.
Demise
Fred Brownfield was killed in June 2006, and with the series future in question, its assets were sold in early July to three team owners in order to finish the 2006 season-- Don Lamberti and Lonnie Parsons (#6 Casey's General Store), Guy Stockbridge (#14 Elite Racing), and Steve KinserSteve Kinser
Steve Kinser , is a professional sprint car racer. He has won 20 championships in the World of Outlaws series, and currently drives the #11 Bass Pro Shops car. Kinser left the World of Outlaws in 2006 to compete with the National Sprint Tour series, but returned to the World of Outlaws for the...
(#11 Quaker State) for $250,000. Since Brownfield had only 2 months to put together a 2006 schedule, the schedule had only 45 dates.
There was intense speculation in October 2006 about the future of the series. The NST had not announced a racing schedule for 2007, and most of the prominent industry promoters decided to sanction World of Outlaws events. Prominent drivers Danny Lasoski
Danny Lasoski
Danny "The Dude" Lasoski is a race car driver from Dover, Missouri.Most of his experience is in the World of Outlaws series, winning the WoO championship in 2001, and finishing second four times, in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2004. He won the premiere event in sprint car racing, the Knoxville...
and Steve Kinser
Steve Kinser
Steve Kinser , is a professional sprint car racer. He has won 20 championships in the World of Outlaws series, and currently drives the #11 Bass Pro Shops car. Kinser left the World of Outlaws in 2006 to compete with the National Sprint Tour series, but returned to the World of Outlaws for the...
announced that they would be racing full time with the World of Outlaw beginning with the 2007 season. The World of Outlaws announced it would be nationally broadcast on the Speed Channel and ESPN2 in 2007. NST announced over the 2006-2007 offseason that it would fold as a national tour, while selling its remaining Northwest-based tour, now the Northwest Sprint Challenge Series.