September 4, 2025 | By Alex Nietem, WOO Sprint Car PR

World of Outlaws head to New Mexico this weekend

VADO, N.M.—New Mexico, a land complete with vast desert, surreal white sands, imposing mountain ranges, and, occasionally, dirt tracks.

Next up on the agenda for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is a return to the southwestern state as Vado Speedway Park welcomes the country’s top Sprint Car drivers this weekend (Sept. 5-6). While it hasn’t been a schedule staple with the likes of a Pennsylvania or a California over the years, New Mexico has its own history with the World of Outlaws that spans several decades.

The first visit to the “Land of Enchantment” for Ted Johnson’s band of travelers came in 1987. The most populated city in the state, Albuquerque, welcomed The Greatest Show on Dirt as Duke City Raceway hosted the tour on Aug. 26. The promoter? None other than New Mexico native and two-time World of Outlaws champion car owner, Casey Luna. The winner? Twenty-time Series champion Steve Kinser.

It was Luna’s own car winning the Series’ second visit, as Duke City brought the Series back a year later with Bobby Davis Jr. taking the famed No. 10 to Victory Lane. Two more Duke City visits followed before a six-year hiatus.

Las Cruces’ Southern New Mexico Speedway took center stage in 1996. Broken Arrow, OK’s Andy Hillenburg, also a 1989 winner at Duke City, claimed the Series debut. Dave Blaney won the next year, and Steve Kinser took the track’s final Series race in 1999.

San Felipe Pueblo’s Hollywood Hills Speedway was born in 2002 and booked the World of Outlaws for opening night. The 1/3-mile dirt track, neighbored by a casino, packed its massive grandstands that weekend as Steve Kinser swept. Hollywood Hills stands as the most visited New Mexico track with eight nights of action. “King” Kinser dominated by winning the first seven before Donny Schatz stopped him in 2008. The track shuttered a year later.

After Hollywood Hills closed its doors, the tour didn’t return for more than a decade. Longtime Sprint Car supporter, Royal Jones, crafted one of the sport’s finest facilities, and Vado Speedway Park’s ribbon was cut in 2019 with a concrete midway, suites, and modern restrooms and concessions awaiting fans. The World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Models battled for three nights at Vado in 2020 before their Sprint Car counterparts came to town two years later when Brad Sweet topped the Series’ Tuesday debut.

That brings us to the present day. Tracks have come and gone. The names have changed, but the theme remains the same as the World of Outlaws will bring the best of the best to the “Land of Enchantment.”

Instead of a solo night during the middle of the week like in 2022, New Mexico Sprint Car fans will be treated to a full weekend of World of Outlaws racing at Vado this time around. It’ll mark the first time since 2003 the state has hosted consecutive evenings of action.

For tickets to this weekend’s races at Vado, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, don’t miss a lap on DIRTVision.