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FloRacing General Manager Michael Rigsby Wants “Fuel Issue” Problem Solved After Kings Royal Has Open Red Before Final Laps Of The Race

July 20, 2026  ·
  John Trent

FloRacing General Manager Michael Rigsby shared his opinion that he would like the “fuel issue” problem solved in Sprint Car racing after an open red was called for in the final laps of the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway.

On what looked to be the final lap of the Kings Royal, Spencer Bayston brought out a caution after he failed to make it into the infield. That caution turned into an open red to allow for teams to refuel.

Based on the DIRTVision broadcast it appeared that Carson Macedo had seemingly run out of fuel right before the open red was announced. The Voice of the Outlaws announcer Johnny Gibson shared, “Trouble on the front stretch for the 41 of Carson Macedo.”

Race control can then be heard saying, ‘We got to go red.’

Next, Gibson announced, “And we will go under red flag conditions. We have reached the point where we cannot run the remaining two laps on the full tank of fuel from the start.”

The open red lasted for five minutes and allowed teams to no only refuel, but make adjustments to their cars for the green, white, checkered finish. Anthony Macri would hold on for the win on the ensuing restart, but second place running Garet Williamson would fade to fifth. Rico Abreu was able to advance from third to second while Giovanni Scelzi advanced from fourth to third. Similarly, Corey Day moved up to fourth from fifth.

During the open red, Rigsby shared his thoughts on the matter, “I made and spent most of my life in Late Model racing, but have come to absolutely love and adore sprint car racing. But this “fuel issue” late in races just feels … off/wrong/whatever you want to call it.”

“Watching the end of the King’s Royal and thinking … “surely this can’t be the way”. What say you? (And no I don’t have the answer but would love to hear yours),” he concluded.

Modified competitor and former NASCAR driver and analyst Kenny Wallace shared a similar opinion, “I respect DIRT Sprint car immensely, and I know better than to mess with there tradition. But I said to myself, this is just wrong.”

Dirt Late Model competitor Gordy Gundaker shared his own cheeky suggestion for a change to the race’s format, “Petition to make the Kings Royal 75 laps next year. 1 fuel stop at 40 to go, but no changes allowed except fuel.”

Fabricator Flea Ruzic also shared this thoughts, “I hate to be the negative nancy on this topic but the fuel stop ruined the race for me as well.

“Stop allowing fuel stops and the racers will fix their own problems,” he added. “They might run out a few times but they will find solutions and make the changes needed to go the distance for the win. When you cater to a society you end up with a society that expects to be catered to 💯.”

This is not the first time that fuel stops have come up and it likely won’t be the last. Last July, Kyle Larson shared his thoughts following a refuel stoppage at Port Royal during PA Speedweeks. Larson told FloRacing’s Earl Hoon Jr., “Just disappointed to give up the track position like that. And then we sat all these laps for guys that have small fuel tanks. And we have a big one and we don’t ever run out. It is what is. Maybe we can adjust some rules to maybe how they should be for the big tanks.”

He elaborated on those comments while speaking to FloRacing’s Kyle McFadden. Speaking specifically to the caution that was thrown for the refuel, Larson said, “I wasn’t even thinking we were throwing a yellow for fuel. I’m sliding for the lead. I’m guessing the line that he was running that maybe he was running out of fuel also, but I wasn’t. We run a big tank. That’s just a frustrating part is that we’re still at the point in sprint car racing where we haven’t made the larger fuel tanks mandatory. I know own a series and I’m sure we don’t make it mandatory either, but I think as a sport-. Fans complain about fuel stops. It’s probably time we need to run bigger tanks and let these crew chiefs balance their car.”

When asked if he thought he had a chance after the fuel stop, Larson answered, “Not really because I’m sure it also allows his crew to talk to him and tell him to just pound it, which he was probably going to do. But I don’t know, it looked like he was starting to cheat entry and exits a little bit. Maybe without the red we have a restart with 4 to go and I’m in second and he’s still running that line maybe I can build a run, but it’s just hard on a half mile and clean air and all that.”

NEXT: Anthony Macri Makes History With Second Straight Eldora Kings Royal Crown

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Author: John Trent