Jacob Allen was making moves “on the fly” when he began last year’s World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series campaign.
After gaining recognition on the illustrious dirt-track circuit during his 2020 and ’21 campaigns, Allen was still adjusting to his newfound confidence in 2022. But ready or not, the Shark Racing driver had no choice but to launch headfirst into the deep waters of WoO competition.
Since earning his first Outlaw victory at Dodge City (Kan.) Raceway Park in 2020, Allen was patiently awaiting another trip to victory lane. He ended the 2021 season without a single trophy — collecting three top-fives instead — but refused to lose heart.
On April 10 of last year, Allen turned it all around.
He captured a second career victory in his No. 1a sprint car at Missouri’s Lake Ozark Speedway during the 30-lap, $15,000-to-win Jason Johnson Classic. As Allen lined up for the race — finishing on top in qualifying, the dash and his heat race en route to the feature — he was bitten by lingering doubt, due to his past luck at Lake Ozark.
Jacob Allen races for his family-owned Shark Racing operation. (Paul Arch photo)
“I’d had a couple opportunities there, starting up front, to possibly win a race and I ended up flipping twice. So I felt like I had some beef with that track,” Allen recalled. “It was like, not tonight, we’re not crashing. We’re going to get the job done.”
He did, in fact, get the job done and went on to score four more significant victories during the WoO season.
The second came at his home track of Lincoln (Pa.) Speedway, the third at Wisconsin’s Cedar Lake Speedway and the fourth during the Gold Cup Race of Champions at California’s Silver Dollar Speedway.
Allen also won a preliminary night feature at the Knoxville Nationals in Iowa.
“Those aren’t just backyard wins. Those are big wins,” Allen commented.
Overall, the 28-year-old’s performance was inspiring, seemingly setting him up for another successful year. Undaunted by the 80-plus race schedule, Allen felt like a changed man when the season kicked off at Florida’s Volusia Speedway Park in February.
“I feel way better about myself as a guy setting up a race car and I feel way more confident when I’m in a position to win a race now. I didn’t have that experience of winning races last year,” Allen said.
Despite the extra pep in his step at the beginning of the year, it’s been a mixed bag of results for the No. 1a wheelman this year. He’s finished outside the top-10 in seven races, with only a seventh-place finish and a pair of thirds to bolster his season trajectory. Allen believes his biggest downfall has been qualifying.
“When I get that qualifying stuff refigured out, I’m going to be there [for the win] and I’m ready for all of that,” he added.
He hasn’t lost touch of last season’s magic and, with a few minor adjustments, Allen is optimistic a few more trips to victory lane are in his future. This weekend’s pair of races may be the opportunity he’s looking for, as the World of Outlaws series heads to Missouri’s U.S. 36 Raceway for the Osborn Sprint Car Showdown on Friday and 81 Speedway in Kansas for the Jason Johnson Classic on Saturday.
While the track hosting the Jason Johnson Classic may have changed, being the defending event winner still has its perks for Allen.
If he can pair the calculated, veteran mentality he’s displayed this season with the emotional memory of his second career Outlaw win, Allen and his No. 1a sprint car may prove to be a deadly combo on Saturday night.
“I’m somebody who, if I can get my race car feeling comfortable for me, I’m going to race up against the best of them,” Allen said. “I’m not afraid of this guy or that guy. I’m here to win and this is my life.”
Keyword: Allen: ‘I’m Not Afraid Of This Guy Or That Guy’