Shane Stewart Makes Last Lap Pass to Win Knoxville Nationals Qualifier
Stewart ties Madsen for second in points; Schatz takes the lead and the pole in Saturdays A main
KNOXVILLE, Iowa – Aug. 8, 2014 – One lap is all Shane Stewart led at Friday night’s qualifying feature for the FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores, but it was the one that mattered.
Continue reading World of Outlaws–Shane Stewart Makes Last Lap Pass to Win Knoxville Nationals Qualifier
Brian Brown Takes Night One at the FVP Knoxville Nationals
Brown is now second in the point standings for the Knoxville Nationals title
KNOXVILLE, Iowa – Aug. 7, 2014 – Brian Brown fired the opening shot in the battle for the FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores, surging past Sam Hafertepe Jr. to win Thursday night’s qualifying feature.
Continue reading World of Outlaws–Brian Brown Takes Night One at the FVP Knoxville Nationals
Kerry Madsen Holds off Donny Schatz to Win the Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 presented by Walker
Madsen scored his fifth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory of the season
PEVELY, Mo. – Aug. 2, 2014 – Kerry Madsen proved to be the strongest man Saturday night at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, leading 35 laps and holding back his fiercest competition to win the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series’ Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 presented by Walker.
Continue reading World of Outlaws–Kerry Madsen Holds off Donny Schatz to Win the Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 presented by Walker
Paul McMahan Holds off Kerry Madsen to Win Red Flag Delayed Prelude to the Ironman
McMahan picked up his fourth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season in a race delayed by rain and extensive repairs to the catch fence
PEVELY, Mo. – Aug. 1, 2014 – The Monroe Shocks & Struts Prelude to the Ironman at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 proved to be a long event that saw rain delays and a two hour red flag to repair damage to a catch fence – but none of that slowed Paul McMahan as he held off Kerry Madsen and drove to his fourth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season Friday night. Continue reading World of Outlaws–Paul McMahan Holds off Kerry Madsen to Win Red Flag Delayed Prelude to the Ironman
Donny Schatz Battles Shane Stewart to Win Third in a Row at Ohsweken Speedways Six Nations Showdown
Schatzs 12th win of the season gives him the most wins of any driver so far this season
OHSWEKEN, Ont. – July 29, 2014 – Neither cautions nor a fierce battle with Shane Stewart could stop Donny Schatz on his way to a sweep of the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series’ three-race Canada swing and 12th win of the season at Ohsweken Speedway Tuesday night.
Continue reading World of Outlaws–Donny Schatz Battles Shane Stewart to Win Third in a Row at Ohsweken Speedways Six Nations Showdown
Donny Schatz Scores 11th Win of the Season at Cornwall Motor Speedway
Schatz gets his second win in as many nights and remains undefeated with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series at Cornwall
CORNWALL, Ont. – July 27, 2014 – Donny Schatz scored his second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win in as many nights Sunday after battling David Gravel and Kerry Madsen at Cornwall Motor Speedway. It was Schatz’s 11th win of 2014, tying him with Daryn Pittman for the most on the season.
Continue reading World of Outlaws–Donny Schatz Scores 11th Win of the Season at Cornwall Motor Speedway
Patience Pays Off for Donny Schatz as He Wins at Autodrome Drummond
This was Schatzs 10th World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season and his first at the track
DRUMMONDVILLE, Que. – July 26, 2014 – Donny Schatz charged past lapped cars and his competition Saturday night at Autodrome Drummond on the way to his 10th World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season.
Schatz, who spent much of the race in his fifth place starting position, had his patience pay off as his STP/Armor All car and the track came around.
Continue reading World of Outlaws–Patience Pays Off for Donny Schatz as He Wins at Autodrome Drummond
Daryn Pittman Charges to 11th Win of the Season at Fulton Speedway
Jessica Zemken scores best ever World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series finish
FULTON, N.Y. – July 23, 2014 – Daryn Pittman charged to his 11th win of the season Wednesday night at Fulton Speedway, as Sprakers, N.Y.-native Jessica Zemken scored her best ever World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series finish.
Pittman, who sits just 55 points out of the championship lead, said the win was the most uncomfortable he has had this season.
“I just knew we were going to get smoked,” Pittman said in victory lane. “I honestly thought we were going to go from the lead to fourth or fifth in a lap. I just didn’t know what to do. I was lost as a driver. The pace of the race just changed dramatically there.”
“I was good on top in one and two and when I could run the top in one and two that really helped me hit the top in three and four.”
Pittman said as he approached lapped traffic in his Great Clips #9, he noticed the cars were getting away from him.
“When I started running the bottom all the way around, I started making really bad laps in three and four on the bottom,” he said. “I just kept waiting for somebody to show me their nose… It’s an uncomfortable feeling as a driver when you’re doing the wrong thing on the racetrack and you just don’t know what to do. I was looking for the checkered about five laps before that and luckily it was just enough.”
Pittman credited his crew chief Kale Kahne for making substantial changes after his dash win to give him the car he needed at the end of the feature.
Zemken said her Corr/Pak Merchandising team’s third place finish means a lot – especially against the competition.
“It’s like a win for us,” she said. “To come here with the budget we have and the equipment that we have and be able to be here and be competitive with these guys – it’s just awesome.”
Zemken, who won her heat race earlier in the night and started the A main in sixth, said her experience at the track helped her understand how the surface would change throughout the night. She said she knew the bottom would be good later after the middle and top went away.
After losing her brakes with four to go, Zemken said she figured her night would be over.
“As soon as the brakes went to floor, I said this is what always happens,” she said. “We have a good car, something bad’s going to happen… They held up just enough to slow me down to be able to catch the bottom. And when I came up on Schatz I got underneath him a couple of times and I didn’t even realize Saldana was a lapped car. I’ve got to say, that’s the first time that I’ve been able to come around and lap Joey Saldana. I stuck behind him a little bit. I’ll take third.”
After winning the dash, Pittman started on the front row with David Gravel. As Pittman jumped out to an early lead, Gravel had his hands full with Cody Darrah. The two battled through the opening laps but Donny Schatz looked to take advantage in his STP/Armor All car. He got around Darrah by lap 10, as Gravel maintained the second position.
Farther back, Zemken was making her push forward, getting around Kraig Kinser in the fifth position and then taking the fourth spot from Darrah.
With less than 10 to go, Schatz got around Gravel for the second spot and set his sights on Pittman. As the A main entered its final laps and Pittman battled through lapped traffic, Schatz took one last look at Pittman.
Pittman took the checkered flag in first with Schatz second, Zemken in third, and after a drag race down the front stretch, Gravel in fourth and Darrah in fifth.
Schatz said he worked all night trying to find the right line on the track. He said he wished his team had been able to make a few more changes.
“I tried – that’s all you can do,” Schatz said. “The car was OK… We’ll try harder next week.”
The race for the championship remains tight between Pittman and Schatz. 55 points separate the two just past the halfway point of the season.
Gravel scores fourth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season
WEST LEBANON, N.Y. – July 20, 2014 -David Gravel scored his fourth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season Sunday night at Lebanon Valley Speedway – but if not for a little luck, the result could have been very different.
Gravel took the lead in his Roth Motorsports car on a restart following a caution on lap five. He jumped past Kerry Madsen and held the position until another yellow flew on lap 13.
Continue reading World of Outlaws–With Luck on His Side, David Gravel Gets Win at Lebanon Valley Speedway
Dewease is the 19th different World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series winner of the season
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – July 19, 2014 – After a nearly three hour rain delay that pushed the start of the feature into the early morning hours of Sunday, Lance Dewease held off Donny Schatz to win night two of Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway. Dewease’s win gave the Pennsylvania Posse a sweep of Summer Nationals and made him the 19th different World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series winner of the season.
Continue reading World of Outlaws–Lance Dewease Leads a Posse Sweep of Williams Grove
Posse Strikes Back as Hodnett Bests Marks, Saldana at Williams Grove Speedway
Hodnett becomes the 18th different World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series winner of the season; Hodnett and Marks give Posse 1-2 finish
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – July 18, 2014 – Greg Hodnett led the Pennsylvania Posse to a World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway, striking back on night one of the Summer Nationals after Outlaw Daryn Pittman won Thursday night at Lincoln Speedway.
Hodnett, who started the A main in fourth in his Lelands.com/Pasquariello’s Auto Shop car, dominated the second half after getting around Outlaw Joey Saldana and fellow Posse Brent Marks on a restart. Hodnett said the double file restarts that had hurt him the night before at Lincoln, helped him at Williams Grove.
“We’re just fortunate to be standing here,” Hodnett said. “It’s a great field of cars.”
Continue reading World of Outlaws–Posse Strikes Back as Hodnett Bests Marks, Saldana at Williams Grove Speedway
Outlaw Pittman Battles Posse to Win at Lincoln Speedway
Scores his 10th victory of the season, his first ever double-digit Outlaw season; closes championship points gap on Schatz
ABBOTSTOWN, Pa. – July 17, 2014 – The Pennsylvania Posse gave Daryn Pittman a run for his money Thursday night at Lincoln Speedway – ultimately though the Posse was no match for Pittman as he notched his 10th World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season.
Continue reading World of Outlaws–Outlaw Pittman Battles Posse to Win at Lincoln Speedway
Schatz Wins Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup XXIII at Lernerville Speedway
Outlaw Cody Darrah battles the Posses Danny Dietrich to win the second feature of the night
SARVER, Pa. – July 15, 2014 – Donny Schatz went back-to-back at Lernerville Speedway’s Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup Tuesday night, winning his second Silver Cup in as many World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series seasons and scoring his fifth overall.
Eldora Speedway Crowns King Kerry the 31st at Kings Royal
Kerry Madsen scores his first Kings Royal victory, his seventh podium finish in a row and his fourth win of the season
ROSSBURG, Ohio – July 12, 2014 – Kerry Madsen did something Saturday night few before him have ever done – he won the Kings Royal, one of the most coveted prizes on the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series schedule, and the right to be called ‘King.’
Continue reading World of Outlaws–Eldora Speedway Crowns King Kerry the 31st at Kings Royal
Sammy Swindell Overcomes Recent Bad Luck, Wins Knight Before the Kings Royal
Earns 294th career win and second of the season; bests non-Outlaw Tim Shaffer
ROSSBURG, Ohio – July 11, 2014 – After a string of near wins and some bad luck, three-time champion Sammy Swindell forged ahead Friday night, pushing back a challenge from non-Outlaw Tim Shaffer and winning the Knight Before the Kings Royal, his second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season.
“It’s great – after the year we’ve had… We’ve been right there the last few races, just couldn’t pull it off at the end and tonight the car just got better and better,” Swindell said. “The Big Game Treestands car and team did an awesome job.”
Swindell has led at least part of three of the last four races – including the last Outlaws event at the Brad Doty Classic at Limaland Motorsports Park, where he dominated early but fell off toward the end of the event. At the first night of the Boot Hill Showdown in Dodge City, Kan., Swindell picked up the pole for the A main, but had his night ended in the first turn of the first lap, after Paul McMahan made contact with him and Swindell flipped.
Friday night at Eldora, Swindell put all of that behind him.
Shaffer, who sat on the pole, jumped out to an early and dominate lead after a short battle with Swindell to begin the A main.
“We were a little bit too tight at the start, let Shaffer get away,” Swindell said.
By lap five, Shaffer hit the first lapped traffic in his Canton Electric car but pushed through undeterred. Swindell however was in hot pursuit and by lap 13 had caught Shaffer. Swindell made the pass in his Big Game Treestands car through turns three and four and drag raced Shaffer into one and two. By the time the two cars hit the backstretch, Swindell firmly had the lead.
“Once I got in the front I was just trying to pace myself,” Swindell said. “I didn’t hear anybody or see anybody – I was just running some nice laps and then trying to keep the car under me.”
The first yellow flag in what would become a series in the middle of the feature fell on lap 16 after Joey Saldana’s right rear tire shredded. Once the green flag again flew, only two laps passed before contact between fourth-place Kerry Madsen and fifth-place David Gravel left Gravel at the bottom of the front stretch. Another short green with 18 complete, ended before the first lap could be completed with Brandon Wimmer on his roof after flipping.
The green flag flew for the final time with 18 complete. The final 12 laps saw battles between Kerry Madsen and Jac Haudenschild, and Madsen and Pittman, as Shaffer looked for one last chance.
Swindell took the checkered flag, scoring his 36th all-time win at Eldora.
“It was really awesome here tonight… Everything fell in place,” Swindell said. “If we can keep that up, we might win a couple more.”
Shaffer, who was pulling double duty Friday night, competing with the Outlaws and in a separate 360 sprint car, said running as well as he did felt great.
“I screwed up in lapped traffic,” Shaffer said. “I got there and I got my timing wrong. I was trying too early and I know better. Hopefully we learned a few things for tomorrow. It feels great to be up there in second.”
In victory lane, Swindell thanked his supporters.
“I’ve just got to thank everyone that’s been helping me and been behind me – all the guys, Pete and Tony; my wife Amy,” Swindell said. “Everybody knows that helps me.”
In the midst of all the excitement, two people Swindell forgot to thank were his longtime team owners Tod and Lisa Quiring. Swindell often credits the Quirings as his biggest and most strident supporters.
Swindell heads into the Kings Royal on Saturday night as a three-time winner of the event and looks to become the first winner of both the ‘Knight Before’ and the Kings Royal since 20-time champion Steve Kinser did it in 2003.
Kerry Madsen drove his American Racing Custom Wheels car to a third place finish – his sixth podium finish in a row. He said he had a really good car all night, but struggled on the restarts. Tempers flared on track and off between Madsen and Gravel, and Madsen and Pittman in the closing laps as the three drivers battled for position.
“There at the end of that run I had a quicker car than the two cars ahead but there really wasn’t much I could do unless they made a mistake in front,” Madsen said. “And then when someone made a mistake you had to commit to it and go for it – that’s part of racing at Eldora.”
“Just trying to bring it home every night – that was a tough battle.”
The battle for the championship continues to tighten as Donny Schatz’s points lead shrunk again over Pittman to 66. Paul McMahan remains in third, 85 points out of the lead.
The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series returns to Eldora Speedway Saturday night for the Kings Royal. The Outlaws return to Pennsylvania next week for a four race swing that will take them to Lernerville Speedway, Lincoln Speedway and Williams Grove Speedway.
Paul McMahan Wins Emotional Brad Doty Classic after Pitched Battle with Sammy Swindell
Earns third World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season and the 21st of his career
ELIDA, Ohio – July 9, 2014 – Paul McMahan won an emotional World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory at Limaland Motorsports Park’s annual Brad Doty Classic Wednesday night after a pitched battle with three-time champion Sammy Swindell that lasted much of the 40-lap feature.
McMahan, who earlier in the night talked about what Brad Doty has meant to him as he developed as a driver and person through the years, said this win means a lot to him.
“I tell you what, it took me a little bit to collect my thoughts before I got out of this racecar because this just means the world to me,” McMahan said. “Brad Doty, like I said, is my hero and I’ve come here many times and never been able to get a win. It’s a normal win, but this is the Brad Doty Classic. This takes every win I’ve ever won away and this is right up top.
“Man, I won the Brad Doty Classic… I can’t believe this, this is the greatest.”
Sammy Swindell started on the front row with Shane Stewart and dominated early. McMahan, who started in fourth, found his way around third place Kerry Madsen early and began working on Shane Stewart. The two battled in the opening laps with McMahan taking the second position by lap two.
Following a caution with two laps complete, Madsen drove his American Racing Custom Wheels car around Stewart and moved into the third position.
For the next thirty laps, Swindell and McMahan battled back and forth for the lead. Swindell ran high as McMahan tried both the low line and the high line, riding the cushion until it went away midway through the race. The two even traded position on lap 12 with McMahan taking over the lead briefly.
Farther back, Daryn Pittman was working his way forward in his Great Clips car after starting in the ninth position and Donny Schatz was doing the same after he was forced to use a provisional and started in the back. By lap 25, Pittman had moved to fifth while Schatz worked his way up to the ninth position.
With less than 10 to go, McMahan got the opportunity with his CJB Motorsports car he had been looking for to get around Swindell.
“I was following Sam and I was just kind of staying with him, I wasn’t getting nowhere,” McMahan said. “So I saw some lapped cars down there that were hard to lap and I just said, what the heck, I’ll give it a shot and the thing stuck and I just drove off.”
McMahan got around Swindell on the low side in the middle of turn one and two.
“I was a little nervous there at the end if I would get the lapped cars, whether I needed to be at the top or the bottom,” McMahan said. “But I know if I would have hesitated, Sammy would have pounced on me.”
With much of his family in attendance, McMahan scored his third win of the season and the 21st win of his career. He sits just 91 points out of the championship lead in third place.
Swindell fell back in the closing laps. He finished the race in seventh.
For second place finishing Madsen, this was his 22nd top-five of the year and his fifth podium finish in a row.
“Great car, we had a good run,” Madsen said. “I felt like in the middle stages we had opportunities but the yellows would keep coming out. We had a great run. We had our chance – we didn’t take advantage of it but a great second place.
“It’s always an exciting race at Lima and I’m sure tonight was no different. I feel a little disappointed but we’re still really, really pleased with a second place run.”
Pittman, who closed out his night in third after advancing six positions from the start, credited his team, his car and a little positive thought for the success his team has had this season. He said tonight he just did not find the right line early enough.
“Early in the race, the top was fast, I probably just didn’t do a good enough job hustling the car and running it as hard as I needed to up on the fence,” Pittman said. “Just stuck with the middle and the bottom early and that wasn’t very fast and the top finally slowed down and we got going pretty good there at the end. I just need to do a better job trusting my car.”
“All and all it was a good night, you just want to win… We’ll think about it and move on to Friday and hopefully we’ll get a little better.”
Schatz, who finished fourth, took the KSE Hard Charger Award after advancing his STP/Armor All car 21 positions through the field.
In addition to McMahan closing the gap on Schatz, so did second place Pittman who is now just 70 points away from the five-time champion in the race for the 2014 championship.
The legendary Eldora Speedway hosts the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series on Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12 for the Knight Before the Kings Royal and the Kings Royal. Following that, the Outlaws swing through Pennsylvania with stops at Lernerville Speedway, Lincoln Speedway and Williams Grove Speedway.
The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Heads to Eldora Speedway for the Knight Before the Kings Royal and the Kings Royal
The feeling of winning the Kings Royal is pretty indescribable
CONCORD, N.C. – July 8, 2014 – Many have tried but few have actually been crowned at Eldora Speedway’s legendary Kings Royal. This weekend, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series rolls into the storied half-mile oval for the Knight Before the Kings Royal on July 11 and the Kings Royal on July 12, where one driver will be lucky enough to stand out among the crowd and be called ‘King.’
Some of the most recent winners at Eldora Speedway and last year’s ‘King’ Brad Sweet talk about the experience of winning at the track, and the experience of winning one of the most coveted prizes in all of sprint car racing.
Brad Sweet – won the 2013 King’s Royal
“The feeling of winning the Kings Royal is pretty indescribable. You never know what it’s going to feel like to win a big race – you always dream about doing it. Once you do it, it’s just nice to have it on your resume and no one can ever take it away from you. There’s only so many guys that can say they’ve won the Kings Royal. It’s just unbelievable that I get to put my name on the trophy with those guys. If it never happens again, at least I’ll get to say I did it once.”
Daryn Pittman – won the Knight Before the Kings Royal on July 19, 2002, the Kings Royal on July 13, 2008 and on May 4, 2013.
“It’s a great place to win at, but this is the Kings Royal, so this isn’t just Eldora. This is the one you want to win. We’ve done it once. It was one of the highlights of my career. It would mean the world to do it again.”
“We were really good there this spring – we felt like we really let one slip away from us a little bit. We’ve had a good car there pretty much every time we’ve been in this car, so I’m excited about it.”
Kerry Madsen – won on May 3, 2013 and the Knight Before the Kings Royal on July 12, 2013.
“Winning a race at Eldora is the best feeling in the world. If you’ve won a race at Eldora you’ve done something. You’re a good sprint car driver if you can win at Eldora.”
“Running second in the Kings Royal is the most empty feeling there is. We really want to get one [a Kings Royal win].”
David Gravel – won on May 3, 2014
“To win [the Kings Royal] would be amazing. Obviously we were good the last time we ran there, hopefully we can be half as good as we were last time. The Kings Royal format is definitely a little different. If we have a little luck I think we’ll have a good shot.”
Shane Stewart won at Eldora earlier this season giving his team owner Kyle Larson his first win as a car owner. Stewart dominated the event, holding off Joey Saldana and Paul McMahan.
For the first time ever, fans will be able to watch all of the action from the Knight Before the Kings Royal and the Kings Royal on DIRTVision. See one or both events as Johnny Gibson, the voice of the Outlaws, calls all the action from Eldora Speedway. For more information, visit http://www.DIRTVision.com.
The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series swings into Pennsylvania next for stops at Lernerville Speedway’s Silver Cup, Lincoln Speedway and Williams Grove Speedway for the Summer Nationals.
Daryn Pittman Goes Back-to-Back, Sweeping the Boot Hill Showdown presented by Roto-Mix
Earns ninth win of the season after a hard fought battle with Kerry Madsen
DODGE CITY, Kan. – July 5, 2014 – After battling Kerry Madsen for much of the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series feature Saturday night, Daryn Pittman won back-to-back nights at Dodge City Raceway Park, sweeping the Boot Hill Showdown presented by Roto-Mix.
Pittman, who started the race in fourth in his Great Clips car, had to fight his way past Madsen, Joey Saldana and polesitter David Gravel.
“I kind of love Dodge City – this place has been really nice to me,” Pittman said.
The first caution came out on lap two. On the restart, Madsen and Pittman jumped into the first and second positions, passing Gravel. The two battled, with Pittman looking for a way around Madsen. He got his first opportunity as Madsen hit lapped traffic for the first time on lap eight, but Pittman was not able to make up ground.
When the caution again came out on lap 17, Pittman got the opportunity he had been looking for. Madsen chose the bottom lane putting Pittman on top. As the green flag flew, the drivers drag raced down the front stretch with Pittman taking the lead from Madsen as they dove into turn one.
Madsen looked for opportunities to pilot his American Racing Custom Wheels car around Pittman in the remaining 13 laps and almost had his chance in the final laps as Pittman worked his way through lapped traffic and almost made contact with an inside barrier.
“When it gets rubbered like that, [lapped cars are] in the groove and the worst thing you can do as the leader is move out of the groove and give up the race,” Pittman said. “So I was pretty committed to staying on the bottom and trying to make [the lapped car] bobble at least enough that I could get my nose underneath him, but it just wasn’t going to happen… Luckily, [the lapped car] opened up the door there just enough at the end that I was able to get by on the front stretch and I thought that might be enough to get us to the end as long as the tires held up and luckily it was.”
With family and friends in attendance, the Owasso, Okla. native, won his second feature in as many nights and his ninth race of the season. As great as win nine was, Pittman said he is looking forward to a bigger prize.
“It feels good, but it means nothing come November if we’re not at the top of the charts in the points,” Pittman said. “Obviously we didn’t win the most races last year. That was something we knew we needed to improve on, and we’ve got off to a good start… So hopefully, this is halfway, if we can get to 18 at the end of the year we’ll be in the hunt for that championship again and that’s our main goal.”
Pittman closed the gap between he and Donny Schatz to 73 points in the race for the championship.
Madsen, who led 15 laps Saturday night, said the bottom lane was the right one on the lap 17 restart, he just had an issue.
“Obviously, if it had gone non-stop we would have had a good chance,” Madsen said. “Once that groove got in we really had to play it conservatively, and when it was time to attack, try to attack. Definitely wasn’t the wrong lane choice, just didn’t happen for us. Got beat on the start, but that’s sprint car racing and it was a great result for us.”
Polesitter Gravel led the first two laps of the race in his Roth Motorsports car. After finishing 15th on night one of the Boot Hill Showdown presented by Roto-Mix, Gravel said Saturday was a good rebound night for he and his team.
“I led the first two laps and then the second restart there Daryn and Kerry were definitely more aggressive and got by me,” Gravel said. “Early in the race we really stood up and I really couldn’t enter the corner too hard which kind of hurt me… Obviously, when you start on the pole, you don’t want to finish in third.”
“It’s a good run to go into the Brad Doty Classic and Kings Royal. I’m a little upset but I can’t complain about third.”
Farther back in the field, 20-time champion Steve Kinser took tonight’s ASE Hard Charger Award, picking up ten positions to finish fourth.
Daryn Pittman Wins Night One of Boothill Showdown presented by Roto-Mix after Early, On-Track Fireworks
After early wreck sidelined polesitter Sammy Swindell, Pittman wins eighth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series race of the season
DODGE CITY, Kan. – July 4, 2014 – The fireworks flew early Friday night at Dodge City Raceway Park where contact on the first turn of the first lap between Paul McMahan and Sammy Swindell left Swindell on his roof and out of the race, and set the stage for Daryn Pittman’s eighth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season at the Boothill Showdown presented by Roto-Mix.
As the green flag fell on the race, three-time champion Swindell led the field to the start-finish line. He jumped out to the lead as the three cars behind him, McMahan, Pittman and Sides jockeyed for position. McMahan drove low into turns one and two, looking for the lead.
“[Swindell] opened the corner up and I tried to dive in on the bottom and it’s a little greasy,” McMahan said. “And as soon as I got down there, the car took off and I got into him.”
Swindell climbed from his damaged racecar with his night ended prematurely. McMahan, who finished the night in second in his CJB Motorsports car, apologized to Swindell following the race.
“I know it doesn’t make him feel any better,” McMahan said. “It wasn’t intentional – it’s not the way I race. We’ve run all year long with Sam and never had a problem. I hate it for him and all the Big Game guys.”
Pittman, who went on to lead all 30 laps in his Great Clips car, holding off challenges from McMahan, said in victory lane he was not sure what happened, but that the first lap incident between McMahan and Swindell was a big break for he and his team.
“You know what they say, I’d rather be lucky than good any day,” Pittman said.
“This is a good win. This is too good of a team for us to run the way we have the last couple of races and nobody got down.”
Pittman, who won four in a row during the month of May but went winless in June, said he struggled to give his crew chief Kale Kahne the information Kahne needed to make changes to the car
“We just looked at everything we could do better and [crew members] Kale [Kahne] and Kolten [Gouse] and [Mike] Carber, they did a great job. They just came back and just gave us a good car all night and put ourselves in position to win, and got some breaks. It feels great to get a win – it’s been a long time.”
Notably, it was a good night for Kasey Kahne Racing. According to Pittman, his win was the 106th for the organization while team owner Kasey Kahne won his race in Daytona Beach, Fla. earlier Friday.
This was Pittman’s eighth win of the season, tying him for most wins on the year with Donny Schatz.
Kerry Madsen, who came into Dodge City after a third-place finish with his American Racing Custom Wheels team at Huset’s Speedway two nights earlier, said it was frustrating not having opportunities to get around McMahan.
“I thought I was a little quicker than Paul,” Madsen said. “He was running a line and trying to capitalize on what Pittman was doing, and I could get a lot more aggressive line. I was trying hard and I thought I had a couple runs but I got into one too high, too hard and got her on two wheels, up and down, and thought maybe we just need to finish this one tonight.”
Madsen said he is looking forward to taking on Dodge City again Saturday night.
This was Madsen’s 20th top-five finish of the season.
After a seventh place finish Friday night, Donny Schatz’s championship points lead shrank slightly to 95 over Pittman. McMahan remains in the third, 106 points out of the lead, while Joey Saldana is in fourth, 162 points out of the lead.
The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series returns Saturday night to Dodge City Raceway Park for night two of the Boothill Showdown presented by Roto-Mix. On July 9, the Outlaws head to Limaland Motorsports Park for the Brad Doty Classic.
Mark Dobmeier Battles Schatz and Swindell to Win at Husets Speedway
This is Dobmeiers third ever World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win and his second Outlaws win at Husets
BRANDON, S.D. July 2, 2014 Mark Dobmeier battled from a 10th place starting position Wednesday night, passing 293-time winner Sammy Swindell for the lead and holding off a late challenge from five-time champion Donny Schatz to claim the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win at Husets Speedway.
Dobmeier, a five-time Husets champion, crossed the finish line in his Senske and Son car to loud cheers from fans at the 3/8 mile track.
That cheer right there says it all! Dobmeier said. I cant thank my team enough. They always stick behind us. They always work harder and harder. Ill tell you what, I gave 110 percent in that race.
Weve been very strong at this track. Id say weve been the fastest car out there for the last two weeks. We had a blown motor and I was going for it for the lead last week, just the other night, pulled a wheelie and got in a tangle up. But thats the fine line of pushing the edge all the time. That could have been the same thing right there but we were able to tame her down and keep her to the win.
Dobmeier, who is a native of Grand Forks, N.D., said he considers the track his second home track.
Anytime you bring it home for the home crowd, this is what its all about here, Dobmeier said. I appreciate every one of you guys out there.
With his win, Dobmeier became the 17th different winner so far this season. This was his third Outlaws win and second at Husets. He notched his first win with the series at Wilmot Raceway in 2006. His previous Husets win with the Outlaws came in 2012.
Swindell started on the front row with Kraig Kinser. Paul McMahan and Joey Saldana started in row two.
As the green flag flew, Swindell jumped out to a strong lead while the shuffle began behind him. A caution on lap nine gave a charging Dobmeier the momentum he needed as he powered past McMahan and Schatz to move into the third position. He soon began to reel in Kraig Kinser for second. By lap 14 he had caught Kinser to take over the second spot.
Shortly after that, Swindell, still with a firm grip on the lead, caught lapped traffic. As Swindell was slowed, Dobmeier gave chase, catching the three-time champion in traffic on the backstretch and making a bold, three-wide pass for the lead. As Dobmeier took over the lead on lap 19, Kerry Madsen, who started in the 19th position, had worked his way all the way up to eighth.
On a restart following a caution just after Dobmeier took the lead, Swindell gave him one more fight, battling Dobmeier for three laps. Meanwhile, Schatz and Madsen looked to advance. Schatz took over the second position on lap 28 and Madsen took over the third spot shortly after.
Dobmeier faced one more challenge in the closing laps from Schatz.
We got to him there, said Schatz, driver of the STP/Armor All car. I knew it was going to be a tire management game but I guess I waited a little bit too long. Mark got himself up there and got in a good spot. He kept slipping off the bottom of one and two and I got underneath him and got even with him. I kind of told myself going into three, Ive got everything to lose and he doesnt. We got side-by-side and he beat us to the corner. Second is where were at.
Dobmeier crossed the finish line in first with Schatz in second and Madsen in third.
Schatz credited his team for putting him in a good position to compete Wednesday night.
Its a tribute to this STP team, Schatz said. These guys have done a phenomenal job all night. Typically I dont qualify all that well here and theyve been working hard on that. Got us a great race car and it was there at the end, just a little bit short.
Madsen, who received the ASE Hard Charger award after picking up 16 spots in his American Racing Custom Wheels car over the course of the race, congratulated Dobmeier and said he wasnt expecting to have the night he had.
I started 19th and I thought if I can crack a top ten, thatll be insane, said Madsen, a native of St. Marys, New South Wales, Australia. I was in the unique position when you start back that far that you just go everywhere the other guys not. I was running the bottom of one and two for a while earlier and then Im like, I think I can go to the top. And ironically it was really good up there. But you have to hit it pretty nice and you can make a pass and put you into good position down here, so I really enjoyed myself.
Its always awesome to come up and race in front of the Husets South Dakota fans – so just a fun night overall.
None of the podium finishers started better than fifth at Husets Dobmeier started 10th, Schatz started fifth and Madsen started 19th.
Schatz again extended his champion points lead to 108 over second place Daryn Pittman. Paul McMahan remained in third, 113 points out of the lead.
The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series travels next to Dodge City Raceway Park for the Boothill Showdown presented by Roto-Mix on July 4 and 5. Limaland Motorsports Park welcomes the Outlaws on July 9 for the Brad Doty Classic.