Sprint car racing in the United States prior to 1978 lacked a unified national structure. Ted Johnson, a former midget racer from Madison, Wisconsin, recognised the need for a coordinated national series with a consistent rule book, a published schedule, and a points system to crown an annual champion. He formed the World of Outlaws sanctioning body and launched the series that year.
Johnson sold the series in 2003 to Boundless Motor Sports Racing, which was subsequently renamed Dirt Motorsports and later World Racing Group (WRG). Under WRG's ownership the series expanded its broadcasting reach. In 2004 WRG extended its subscription streaming platform DIRTVision to the World of Outlaws, beginning with radio broadcasts of all events before adding video streaming to select races and eventually achieving full-calendar video coverage by 2018. The series has been broadcast on delay on CBS Sports Network, with the Knoxville Nationals airing on MavTV since 2013. Earlier national television partners included The Nashville Network and Speed Channel. The series has been sponsored by Monster Beverage's NOS Energy Drink brand since 2019.
World of Outlaws sprint cars are among the most powerful short-track racing vehicles in the world. The mandated engine is a 410-cubic-inch (6.7-litre) naturally aspirated V8 producing over 900 horsepower, running on methanol fuel via mechanical fuel injection. Combined with a minimum car weight of 1,425 pounds (646 kg) including the driver, the power-to-weight ratio can exceed that of contemporary Formula One cars.
The cars carry a large top-mounted wing with sideboards oriented in opposite directions to maximise downforce and cornering grip, plus a smaller front nose wing for additional front-end load. Rear tyre specification is carefully managed: the right rear tyre measures 105 inches in circumference while the left rear is between 90 and 98 inches, creating tyre stagger that assists the car in turning left through the corners at the expense of straight-line speed. Sprint cars use quick-change rear differentials to allow gear ratio changes between or even during events. They have no electrical starter, no transmission, and no reverse gear, necessitating a push truck to start the engine and requiring all gear ratio changes to be made via the quick-change unit.
A typical World of Outlaws event follows a structured format that determines starting positions for the main event through competition rather than simple time sheets. The night begins with hot laps (practice), followed by time trials in which each car completes two laps with the fastest used for seeding. Heat races are then set based on qualifying time. A Toyota Dash race sets the front rows of the feature for the fastest qualifiers. Last Chance Showdown races (B-main, C-main, or D-main depending on car count) allow drivers who did not qualify through the heat races to transfer to the main event. The feature (A-Main) runs from 25 to 55 laps depending on the event. A tradition associated with the World of Outlaws is the pre-feature lineup where cars stage four-wide as a salute to fans in attendance.
The series conducts a season-long points championship that accumulates across all A-main starts on the national schedule. Points determine the series champion and are also used to recognise a Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year award, named for a driver who was killed in a racing accident. The championship has been contested annually since 1978, with the cumulative record of wins and championships forming the core of the World of Outlaws historical record.
The series has long been associated with a number of iconic venues. Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio hosts the Kings Royal, one of the largest-paying events on the annual calendar. Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa hosts the Knoxville Nationals each August, an event that has been broadcast on national television and is considered the most prestigious crown jewel in winged sprint car racing. Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pennsylvania are further historic venues central to the series.
The World of Outlaws series transformed sprint car racing from a fragmented collection of local and regional events into a coherent national spectacle with recognised champions and a predictable touring schedule. Its establishment in 1978 triggered the broader commercialisation of dirt track racing and served as the model for subsequent touring series in the discipline, including the All Star Circuit of Champions and the High Limit Sprint Car Series. The series also contributed to the construction of a professional infrastructure — from tyre supply contracts to streaming media — that has elevated the visibility and economic standing of sprint car racing in American motorsport.