Over the next two weeks, World of Outlaws sprint car driver Brock Zearfoss will practically be racing in his backyard.
With the WoO incorporating an unusually early swing through Pennsylvania on this year’s schedule, Zearfoss will have the luxury of sleeping in his own bed — and not a hotel room — in Myerstown, Pa., until the series heads south to Alabama at the end of March.
As the No. 3Z sprint car team is based in Pennsylvania, attacking the 87-race WoO schedule that visits 19 states means Zearfoss is typically on the road three months at a time. He’s hoping that a few extra nights of peaceful slumber and a dose of hometown spirit might just be what he needs to secure his third series victory.
“It does give a little extra confidence, coming back home. You know rolling into the race track that you have a good opportunity to win,” Zearfoss said. “I grew up racing in Central PA, so I know the race tracks pretty well, even though I haven’t raced full time there in three or four years.”
Brock Zearfoss has collected two series wins in his career, so far. (Paul Arch photo)
Previously a member of the PA Posse, Zearfoss is now a full-time driver on the WoO circuit. This year marks his third full season with the series, though he ran part time for several years before making an official commitment.
“We decided that where we need to be is running with the Outlaws. Obviously, we’re running with the best of the best and if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best,” Zearfoss said. “That’s been our goal since we starting running sprint cars in 2015.”
As one of the newer contenders on the full-time roster, Zearfoss has been fighting an uphill battle since taking a dive into in the deep end of WoO racing in 2021.
One of the main disadvantages he’s faced is a lack of familiarity with “90 percent” of the tracks on the tour.
“You’re racing against guys who have been running 10-plus years and they’ve seen the tracks 50, 60 or 100 times,” Zearfoss said. “They know everything about the tracks and they’ve seen all different kinds of scenarios. I’ve seen two different scenarios.”
Slowly, the “Jonestown Jett” has been accumulating valuable experience behind the wheel, compiling a notebook for the car and logging laps in foreign territory. His persistence paid off last summer when he collected second series victory and first as a full-timer at Wisconsin’s Cedar Lake Speedway on July 2.
However, comfort on any given race track is undoubtedly a key factor in reaching victory lane, which Zearfoss proved during his first career WoO triumph five years ago.
The Pennsylvania native flexed his insider knowledge at Williams Grove Speedway on a hot summer night in 2017 and crossed the finish line in first place, ahead of David Gravel and Donny Schatz.
“You never forget the first one. Williams Grove was an awesome night,” Zearfoss said. “But it’s one of those nights that has to happen all the time if you want to win with the Outlaws. It has to go perfect and you have to have a little bit of luck. We checked all the boxes that night.”
As the first two of four scheduled races for the upcoming Low-E Insulation Spring Showdown stretch through PA were canceled due to weather conditions affecting Port Royal Speedway, the next track on the list is Williams Grove on March 17.
Zearfoss has his eyes locked on the half-mile clay oval as he looks to repeat his 2017 performance and put himself in the right position to battle for career win No. 3. And if it doesn’t go his way, he only has to drive 30 minutes and wait less than 24 hours before hitting the dirt at Lincoln Speedway for the Spring Showdown finale on March 18.
“It’s always nice to come home,” Zearfoss said.
Keyword: Zearfoss Hopes To Repeat 2017 Win At Williams Grove