When Johnson established the series in 1978, sprint car racing in the United States lacked a coherent national tour. Regional promoters ran their own events under varying rules with no consistent points system, making it impossible to identify a genuine national champion. Johnson organised a sanctioning body with a defined national schedule, a standardised rulebook, and a points structure capable of crowning an undisputed champion. The series took its name in the spirit of the itinerant racers who travelled from track to track chasing purses — outlaws operating outside the established regional territories.
The series grew into the most prominent dirt sprint car touring organisation in the country. In 2003, Johnson sold the series to Boundless Motor Sports Racing, which was subsequently renamed Dirt Motorsports and later World Racing Group (WRG). Under WRG ownership the series was rebranded the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series when the organisation introduced a companion Late Model Series, the two together constituting the broader World of Outlaws brand. WRG also extended its DIRTVision subscription streaming platform to the series in 2004, initially offering radio broadcasts before expanding to video streaming of select events and eventually covering the full calendar by 2018.
World of Outlaws sprint cars are highly specialised racing machines built to generate enormous mechanical grip on loose dirt surfaces. The cars must weigh at least 1,425 pounds (646 kg) with the driver aboard and are powered by a mandated 410-cubic-inch (6.7-litre) engine producing over 900 horsepower. The engines use mechanical fuel injection and run exclusively on methanol fuel.
A large top-mounted wing with sideboards facing opposite directions dominates the car's appearance and generates substantial downforce to improve cornering grip. A smaller nose wing provides additional front-axle downforce. Rear tyres are dramatically asymmetric: the right rear measures 105 inches in circumference while the left rear is only 90 to 98 inches depending on track size and conditions. This difference, called stagger, sharpens cornering ability at the cost of straight-line speed.
Sprint cars use quick-change rear ends, allowing teams to alter gear ratios rapidly between sessions, and rely on torsion bar suspension systems with specialised shock absorbers as primary handling tools. The cars have no reverse gear, no clutch, and no onboard starter — push trucks are used to start the engines. The power-to-weight ratio of a World of Outlaws sprint car can exceed that of a Formula 1 car under the right circumstances.
A typical World of Outlaws event night follows a structured programme. Cars begin with motor heat and wheel-pack sessions to prepare the track surface, followed by hot laps for driver familiarisation. Time trials set the qualifying order, usually over two laps with the fastest single lap counting. From there, heat races sort the field, and a Toyota Dash positions the fastest cars at the front of the main event. Last Chance Showdowns (B-mains, C-mains, or D-mains depending on car count) provide the remaining competitors with a final opportunity to make the field. The feature event, the A-main, runs anywhere from 25 to 55 laps.
Among the most prestigious events on the calendar is the Knoxville Nationals, held annually at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa. The race has been broadcast on MavTV since 2013. Selected World of Outlaws events air nationally on CBS Sports Network. Previous broadcast partners included The Nashville Network and Speed Channel.
The series has travelled beyond the continental United States to sanction races in Canada, Mexico, and Australia, reflecting its standing as the most internationally recognised dirt sprint car series.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series created the template for professional dirt track racing in the United States, establishing that sprint car competition could support a viable national touring operation. Its commercial model — subscriptions, streaming rights, and corporate title sponsorship — along with its influence on car development and safety standards, shaped the entire structure of American open-wheel dirt racing as it exists today.