At A Glance: Joey Saldana Leads His Roth Team Back Home
The Series takes on Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California on March 11 and 12
CONCORD, N.C. – March 10, 2016 – With one World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series win on the season and a second place position in the championship standings, Joey Saldana has started the season off right with his new team, Roth Motorsports. As the series heads to Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. on Friday and Saturday, the team looks for a second win – this time, on home turf.

With four wins over the years at the third-mile oval, Saldana hopes to add another to the record books for his Fresno-based team.

“I’m definitely looking forward to going to Tulare, just down the road from the Roth shop,” Saldana said. “Definitely a lot of Roth people will be there and (team owners Dennis and Teresa Roth) will be there, so looking forward for that. And we’ve had some success driving for other teams at Tulare and we’ll take that momentum and get a good result with this car.”

At Tulare, the Roth team has found that success in recent years. Tim Kaeding battled Terry McCarl last season to score a win for the No. 83JR Roth team.

Saldana said for his team owners, the desire to win burns strong and is backed up by a commitment to supply the best equipment and support.

“Obviously to win a World of Outlaws race anywhere is a great accomplishment,” Saldana said. “And I think Dennis and Teresa both appreciate the fact when you put the effort in and win a race. Having them there and witnessing what you just accomplished is pretty special for the team. Definitely keeps everybody happy and elevated and wanting to achieve more.”

Since the start of the season, Saldana has one win, three podium finishes, four top-fives and has finished outside the top ten just one time. The record is a good one considering Saldana is working with newly minted crew chief Eric Prutzman – a veteran of Donny Schatz’s No. 15 team. While the team still has progress to make, Saldana said the pieces are there and the communication between he and Prutzman, whom he had never worked with, is coming together.

“That itself is encouraging knowing you’re close,” Saldana said. “We’re just off a little bit and we really don’t know each other and what we’ve done together in the first seven races. We’re definitely learning fast – it’s easy to learn fast when you’re provided equipment that’s competitive. Right off the bat Dennis (Roth) has provided us the car, the motor, the truck, the trailer – everything that we need to be competitive. We just need to take all of those resources and make it happen. It’s coming along really well for us.”

Unlike the competition, Saldana and Roth are in the unique position of having both Fresno and Brownsburg, Ind. as a home base. Saldana said it helps the team stay energized and close to home throughout the most grueling stretch of the season in June, July and August. It is also helpful for them to have a base during the month-long California swing.

Now in the midst of his 21st season with the Outlaws and closing in on 100 wins, Saldana said he has learned that having fun is the key to staying focused and maintaining momentum.

“I’m looking forward to every night I get to drive this racecar,” Saldana said. “That’s one thing as a driver – you have to have confidence and want to be at the race track. Right now, everything is in place for us to be successful at the race track.”