“Run what ya brung” was the theme in the early days of sprint car racing. Such world-renowned drivers as A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Johnny Ruterford and Mario Andretti got their racing shoes wet on sprint cars which were reminiscent of dune buggies back then. They slid around on dirt racetracks built into sides of mountains and went from track to track around the country. There were no rules. Hence, they were called the “outlaws.” Their image was akin to the all-American cowboy, and the fans loved them. Enter Ted Johnson, a former midget racer from Madison, Wisconsin. He believed that operating sprint car racing under a set of basic rules, establishing an events calendar, and attracting sponsors, would enhance the sport. He formed the World of Outlaws in 1978 and has built the WoO into the largest sprint car sanctioning body in the U.S. It’s the fifth largest auto racing tour in the world. The cars have evolved from heavy, non-winged cars to light weight, 800 hp, aerodynamic winged racers. “The greatest show on dirt,” the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series is in its 23rd year featuring 58 events over 95 race dates at 35 facilities and more than $10 million purses, contingencies and point fund awards.