CONCORD, N.C. Michael Buddy Kofoid grew up watching sprint car drivers shape legacies with Californias Roth Motorsports.

Now, Kofoid is making his own history in Dennis and Teresa Roths famed ride, and hell continue to do so as hes officially set for his sophomore season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.

I feel like racing last year with the Outlaws is the most Ive learned and the most Ive progressed in my career as far as becoming a better race car driver, Kofoid said. And thats, I think, all because of racing with the Outlaws.

A major step in Kofoids career was taken with he linked with Roth midway through 2023. The pairing ran a pick-and-choose schedule to close out the year before committing to the World of Outlaws in 2024, setting up Kofoids first full season with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Kofoids résumé set expectations high. West coasters watched the Penngrove, Calif. native win 410 Sprint Car races as early as 15 years old. He sat on the pole of the Gold Cup Race of Champions with the World of Outlaws at only 16. Eventually he broadened his horizons eastward and impressed on the ovals of Ohio. He proved his versatility by becoming a two-time USAC National Midget champion in 2021 and 2022. Fans across the country were ready to see what Kofoid could do during a full season on Sprint Car racings biggest stage, and he didnt let them down.

The result was arguably the best Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year campaign in Series history. Kofoid bagged seven wins, 27 podiums, and 53 top 10s in his Toyota-powered No. 83 car. Those stats led to a fourth-place finish in points, equaling Jeff Swindell, Brad Doty and Giovanni Scelzi for the highest finishing World of Outlaws rookie.

Highlights included redemption at the BillionAuto.com Husets High Bank Nationals. After mechanical troubles led to heartbreak in 2023, Kofoid banked the six-figure payday at the South Dakota oval in 2024. He later won three times in a four-race stretch in front of his home state fans of California. Kofoid also conquered the tricky Williams Grove Speedway for the first time.

It went better than what I expected and not even just the last few months, Kofoid admitted. Some say we started out kind of rough, but some of that was stuff that happened out of our control like blowing a tire leading at Volusia or we hurt a motor the first race. Then we kind of struggled a little bit in Texas, but theres growing pains with developing a motor. I feel like its come a long way, and Ive been with Roth since June of last year. I think thats helped us do what weve been able to do.

Its as storybook as it gets for Kofoid as he continues to carve out his path in the sport. Hes not only made it where hes always wanted to be, but hes also arrived there with a team that means so much to any Californian with a connection to Sprint Car racing.

To do this with Roth, which coming from California is an iconic team and a team I looked up to growing up, Kofoid said. I also raced against them a lot locally before I moved to the Midwest. So, to do this with them and Toyota and Mobil 1, people Ive been with before I went back to full-time Sprint Car racing, and continue that relationship with them is so cool. I talk about enjoying where youre at, and thats something Ive learned is extremely important.

Kofoid is also rising up Roths history charts fast. A record 16 different drivers have steered one of the teams cars to World of Outlaws Victory Lane Danny Lasoski tops the list with 41. Kofoids eight checkered flags have already equaled James McFadden for the third most. And while Kofoid said he enjoys seeing how far hes come in a short time, hes already thinking about the next win and many more to follow.

To have a decent amount of wins and be third on the list is really cool, Kofoid said. But at the end of the day, theres still work to be done, and the job is not over yet. I feel like after Charlotte, Dylan (Buswell) and I looked at each other and were wishing we could just go straight into Florida because of how good wed been and how enjoyable its been and how much weve learned and progressed. Hopefully we can keep moving up that list. Id love to be with Roth as long as I can and with Dylan and the people Im with and someday hopefully get close to that 41.

A World of Outlaws title is one piece missing from the Roth Motorsports résumé, and its something Kofoid is ready to go after for both he, Dennis and Teresa, and the entire Roth crew.

I think to be in the conversation of having a chance to win an Outlaws championship is really cool and special after just our first year, Kofoid said. I feel like the last half or so of our year was mostly a championship caliber consistency. There are still some things that we couldve done better, and I couldve done better.

But I feel like our last half is more or less what you need to do to win a championship.