World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Champ Pittman Makes Clean Sweep of Williams Grove Speedway
Earns fifth win of ’14, captures Morgan Cup for ‘The Greatest Show on Dirt’
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — May 17, 2014 — Daryn Pittman swept the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car weekend at Williams Grove Speedway after another commanding performance Saturday night.

Pittman held off Don Kreitz Jr. and Lucas Wolfe in the 30-lap A-main to bring his Great Clips car to victory lane for the second time in as many days and claim the Morgan Cup for the Outlaws.

“It doesn’t get any better than that,” said Pittman, a native of Owasso, Okla. “I’m just speechless. This is a big weekend for this team. These guys, this is something they’ve dreamed about for a long time and I’m just a lucky guy to get to drive this thing.”

Pittman ran most of the night on the bottom of the racetrack, holding off challenges from Kreitz and Wolfe on the high side. He credited his crew chief Kale Kahne and the strong competition behind him for the decision to make it work in that line.

“[After the heat race] I ran the top in two and thought I’m really good up there,” Pittman said. “Kale kind of questioned it like I don’t know you want to give up the bottom. And I ran in the Dash and he told me I wasn’t gaining, I was probably losing ground if anything up there. I pretty much made up my mind I was going to run on the bottom and make them go around me on the outside until somebody showed me something different.”

On Friday, much like his win on Saturday, Pittman dominated the 25-lap A-main from the pole position, leading every lap and holding off fierce competition at the same time. It was the first Williams Grove win for his No. 9 team and crew chief Kale Kahne.

“This is just an incredible weekend to win two of these in a row and go back to back,” Pittman said. “I know I’ve never done that so I’m just really happy. I just couldn’t be happier with where I am with my life and the team I’m driving for and what we’ve got going on.”

Pittman’s win Saturday also secured the Morgan Cup for the Outlaws for another year. The Morgan Cup, named in honor of the late Morgan Hughes, former track owner of Williams Grove Speedway, is awarded to the Outlaws or Pennsylvania Posse for a win during the designated event. The Outlaws have won the Cup every year since its inception.

Pittman, starting from the pole position on Saturday night, was joined on the front row by Kreitz in his Sharman Builders/Schannauer Heating & Plumbing car. The two led the field to the green followed by Donny Schatz and Wolfe in row two.

Early on, Pittman jumped out to a strong lead as the three cars behind battled for position. Wolfe got around Schatz in the opening laps.

Kreitz, in second, ran on the bottom as Wolfe looked for a good line on the high side of the track. He finally found it on lap five, taking the second position just out of turn two.

Wolfe then began reeling in Pittman. With Pittman stuck to the bottom of the track though, Wolfe struggled to find a way around. By lap 15 Kreitz began to catch Wolfe. A lap later Kreitz took the second place spot back.

Lapped traffic ultimately helped seal the deal for Pittman in the closing laps. As Kreitz and Wolfe battled with each other and around other cars, Pittman was able to get the room he needed to take the checkered flag and win the Morgan Cup.

“We’ve got to congratulate Daryn,” said second place finishing Kreitz. “Those guys just kicked our butt tonight. We did the best we could – sorry I let the Posse fans down but second is a good run for us and it’s all we had.”

Kreitz said he looks forward to meeting the Outlaws again when they return to Williams Grove for the Summer Nationals in July.

Wolfe, a Mechanicsburg, Pa., native who piloted his Zemco Equipment car to a third place finish, said he is proud of the work his team did to make up ground between Friday and Saturday and put him in position to win against Pittman and Kreitz. Ultimately, he said, he just was not able to make the top work to take advantage of the looks he had against Pittman.

“Early in the race I was kind of able to run through the middle about a lane up on Donny there and I was able to carry enough speed to make the wing work a little bit,” Wolfe said. “Once that went away I really struggled to get off four. I was able to make up a lot of ground in one and two, but I just struggled a lot when the lap cars came in. That’s how the racing is – you have to be on your toes every lap… It’s always good to end the night on the front stretch here at Williams Grove and we’ll just keep working on it.”

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series returns to the track on Sunday at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y. followed by the NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Classic at New Egypt Speedway in New Egypt, N.J. on Tuesday. The Outlaws wrap up the week at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. for the Circle K/NOS Energy Drink Outlaw Showdown on Friday

 
Pittman Leads Outlaw Podium Sweep at Williams Grove
Earns World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car-leading fourth win of ’14
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — May 16, 2014 — Daryn Pittman dominated at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night, holding off Joey Saldana and claiming his fourth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season and a breakout victory for his #9 Great Clips team at the storied half-mile track.

Heavy rain showers threatened the race Thursday night into Friday, but by late morning the inclement weather gave way to drier conditions and a well-sealed track allowed for the event to continue as planned.

Saldana, the current points leader in the Motter Equipment car, joined defending series champion Pittman on the front row to lead the field of 28 to the green flag. Tony Stewart Racing teammates Donny Schatz and Steve Kinser, with 26 championships between them, were poised in row two to chase them down.

Steve Buckwalter brought out the first caution of the night after going around in turn three before a lap could be completed. The field reset but only made it to lap four before another yellow flew. Paul McMahan, Pat Cannon and Don Kreitz Jr. were all caught up in a wreck in turn one. McMahan was the only one able to continue.

When the green flag flew again, the battle between Kinser and Schatz for third took center stage. After working the high line, Kinser eventually found his way around Schatz on lap 5.

Kinser’s run forward was short-lived, though, as rear-end issues forced him off the track on lap 13.

Saldana, in second, closed in on Pittman in the final laps of the race as the two worked their way around lapped traffic. It was Pittman though who took the checkered flag and the win followed by Saldana, Schatz and David Gravel.

Pittman, who finished third two nights earlier at Lincoln Speedway just down the road in Abbottstown, said this win meant a lot for him and for his team.

“This place is tough,” Pittman said. “This track is like a chess match. You don’t really know what to do at certain times.

“We had a fast car from the first time we came here with the No. 9 and they don’t have many good notes here so we kind of came here with a blank slate last year and we just keep getting better every time we come back … This place means a lot to win at just like Eldora and Knoxville so it’s big for me and I know the whole No. 9 team is pretty proud.”

He credited his crew chief Kale Kahne with being able to give him what he needed on the car. This was Kahne’s first win at Williams Grove as a crew chief, and the second win for Kasey Kahne Racing after Cody Darrah earned a win at the half-mile in 2012.

“It’s one of the coolest feelings ever,” Kale Kahne said. “It’s pretty emotional really. All the Outlaw wins are big either way, no matter what you do, all the Outlaw wins are big, but to win at Williams Grove and to beat the guys around us … it’s pretty cool for the whole company because we’ve only won twice at Williams Grove as a company now in six or seven years.”

With unique track conditions at Williams Grove on Friday night, second place finishing Saldana said he thought the Dash was really the key to success in the A-main.

“I kept riding off [Pittman’s] right rear and I felt like I was OK. Even the long run there before the rubber came in [Pittman] was driving really good,” said Saldana, of Brownsburg, Ind. “It was just a good solid run for us. To qualify well, to run well, that’s what you strive to do every night and put yourself in position to win – tonight, we just came up a little short. We’ll come back tomorrow and try to do a better job.”

Schatz, who finished in third in the STP/Armor All car echoed Saldana, saying that the conditions made for a different dynamic on the racetrack.

“Obviously we’ll be in similar conditions tomorrow,” said Schatz, of Fargo, N.D. “We tried a few things with the car which is what you need to do this time of year. All the other races we come back here late in the year pay a lot of money so we want to be on our game and try to have things 100 percent. Everything we did, we had positive results so we know what direction we need to go for tomorrow.

“We had a decent night, but it wasn’t what we wanted,” Schatz said. “We’ll have to take the third place finish and come back tomorrow.”

Series points leader Saldana extended his lead to 19 points. McMahan, who had been in second following Lincoln, fell to fourth place, 43 points out of the lead. Pittman moved to second and Schatz to third, 22 points back.

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series returns to Williams Grove tomorrow as the Outlaws and Posse battle for bragging rights and the right to claim the Morgan Cup. On Sunday the series heads to Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., and on Tuesday it makes its only stop in New Jersey this season for the NAPA Outlaw Classic at New Egypt Speedway.

NOTES: Friday night was the 26th World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series A-main of the season. … There have been 14 different winners this season, with Pittman leading the way at four victories. … The dash invert was a “0” for only the fifth time this season. … Joey Saldana was quickest in qualifying for a series-high 11th time this season.

Posse Strikes First: Smith Tops Outlaws at Lincoln
Holds off Hodnett, Pittman to earn his first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory since 2009
ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. — May 14, 2014 — The light mist that fell on the Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln Speedway much of Wednesday night did not dampen the celebration for Stevie Smith, who claimed his first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win in five years and the first for his car owner Fred Rahmer.

Smith and Jac Haudenschild led the 35-lap A-main to the green flag in front of a full house, and a row in front of Greg Hodnett and Donny Schatz, two drivers with significant success in the Keystone State.

An early caution and subsequent red flag flew on lap two after contact in turn one caused a chain reaction crash involving five cars. David Gravel, Cory Haas, Kraig Kinser and Sammy Swindell all ended upside down and none would be able to return. Danny Dietrich, who won the Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln the past two seasons, was also involved, but did not sustain serious damage.

On the restart, Smith and Haudenschild again the led the field to the green. The battle that ensued for the next dozen laps saw the two drivers exchange the lead while Hodnett battled a charging Daryn Pittman.

A mid-race caution gave Smith the opportunity he needed to pull to the lead in his Miller Bros. Chevrolet car.

Hodnett was third in the Lelands.com car with Pittman still behind him in the Great Clips ride when he turned his sights on second-running Haudenschild. Looking for the right line, Hodnett finally got his opportunity to take second as the leaders caught lapped traffic with eight to go.

Pittman then found his way around Haudenschild with 10 to go.

On lap 30, Hodnett, working to find a way around Smith, slid high through turns one and two but could not make it work. The lost momentum gave Pittman a chance to briefly get around Hodnett before Hodnett retook the spot in the final laps.

Smith, leading Hodnett, Pittman and Haudenschild, took the checkered flag for the first time since 2009 when he won a twin feature at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.

“It’s huge,” said Smith, of Broken Arrow, Okla. “At this point in my career I needed some help and this is a big race for us to win. I know from driving all these years and all this experience, these guys put me here. They’ve got a really good race car for me and we’d like to keep going and I’d like to get one more.”

An ebullient Rahmer was one of the first to greet Smith in victory lane.

“I think he might be happier than me,” said a laughing Smith. “This opportunity came up and Fred came up with this idea. . . I’m on this because these guys know sprint cars. It’s really cool to have somebody that knows the cars, that’s been a driver — I needed some help and this is a boost.”

Capping off the emotional win was the fact that Smith was making only his fourth start in the team’s car.

Rahmer, who ended his own driving career last season after an emotional win at the National Open, said this was one of the highlights of his racing career.

“In all honesty, obviously the National Open was the biggest thing that happened to me in racing up until my kid qualified for his first outlaw race,” Rahmer said. “Stevie winning is just icing on the cake. He deserves it. I know how great a driver he is — he just needed a good opportunity.”

Hodnett, who finished in second, said Smith and the Rahmer team had the car to beat all night.

“With [Haudenschild] up there, he’s obviously going to shove it in just about anywhere and he was having a little problem keeping the front end on the ground,” said Hodnett, of Thomasville, Pa. “So he was having trouble, I was doing wheelies and Stevie just seemed like he was moving right along. And then Daryn got into the mix. I just thought it was a really great race. Obviously I wish the outcome was just a little bit different in our favor but overall I can’t complain. With the caliber of the competition that the Outlaw guys bring we were just really blessed to be on the front row at the end of the night.”

Pittman, last year’s World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series champion, said the car his team gave him was probably the best he has had in his attempts at Lincoln.

“I’m happy — as a competitor you hate to be happy with third but that was a tough race and we had a really good car. We definitely had a car that was good enough to win,” said Pittman, of Owasso, Okla. “You win a race in Pennsylvania, I don’t care if it’s at Lincoln or Williams Grove, you’re going to earn it . . . We’ll take third and go into Friday.

The Outlaws race at Lincoln saw its biggest field of the year with 48 cars attempting the race. Eight drivers made their series debut at the track.

The Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln opened the first of a three race stretch for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series in Pennsylvania. The cars return to the track Friday and Saturday nights at Williams Grove Speedway before heading Sunday to Orange County Fair Speedway and Tuesday to the NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Classic at New Egypt Speedway.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Makes Its First Visit to Eastern Kentucky’s 201 Speedway on Friday Night
Bluegrass State’s Eric Wells aims for breakout night on home turf
By Chris Tilley

SITKA, Ky. – May 13, 2014 – A busy triple-header weekend of action awaits the stars of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, with events in Kentucky and Tennessee on three consecutive nights beginning Friday.

The series will make its first visit to the Jarrod Breeding-owned 201 Speedway in Sitka, Ky. on Friday night for a $10,000-to-win showdown. The 3/8-mile 201 Speedway is in its 31st season of competition for the track located in the heart of Eastern Kentucky, and its second full season under the reigns of Breeding and company.

Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., only an hour away from 201 Speedway, is looking forward to the WoO LMS gang making not only a trip close to his home state but the closest trip the Outlaws make to his Eastern Kentucky home.

“It’s always fun to race locally. Most of our fans including family is from this area and it’s nice when they can come out and support this type of event,” stated the 25-year-old who has one career WoO LMS victory coming last season at Tennessee’s Duck River Raceway park.

Most of Wells’ trips to race with the Outlaws consist of four hours and greater, but 201 Speedway is one track he feels he’s comfortable on.

“I’ve ran over a hundred races at this place since I started racing and this is where I cut my teeth,” exclaimed Wells.

Wells competed in the Spring Nationals Series race that the track hosted in mid-April and got a read on the track’s slick surface during that event.

“It was the slickest I have seen the track. It was different that it usually is,” recalled Wells. “If it’s different when we roll in there this Friday then we’ll go back and look at our notes from before.”

Wells’ crew chief Tommy Hicks, a veteran who spent many years turning the wrenches for Hall-of-Famer Scott Bloomquist, has been a major help in his race program.

“We get along really well,” Wells said. “Him and my dad (team owner David Wells) are really good friends and we’ve all spent a lot of time together. We’re still searching for one more crew member to help but we feel once we get that we’ll be at a point to do some big things.”

After somewhat struggling early in 2014, Wells and team hope to get things turned around soon.

“It’s not been what we wanted,” said Wells about his early season summary. “We’ve had some decent runs at a few tracks too. We’re hopeful in bringing out a new Rocket (Chassis) this weekend to run at 201. We’ve had a lot of success in Rockets in the past. They’ve stepped up their game and I’m excited about running them, it seems to suit my driving style more.”

Wells, the 2013 Rookie of the Year, has enjoyed his run with the Outlaws so far and hopes to continue that good relationship with the series.

“I like the atmosphere. I feel more welcomed by the World of Outlaws,” Wells said. “There’s less pressure running the Outlaws and it’s just a better dirt racing atmosphere.”

This will mark only the sixth appearance by the WoO LMS tour in the World Racing Group’s modern era to the Bluegrass State on Friday Night as the series has raced at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway, Paducah Raceway, Western Kentucky Speedway and Bluegrass Motor Speedway, but this will mark the first series trip to the Eastern part of the state.

Allen, Ky., driver Brandon Kinzer is looking forward to the Outlaws’ Kentucky visit. Kinzer has not entered a WoO LMS event since April 30, 2011 at Bluegrass Speedway but says the Outlaw event at 201 Speedway is brining excitement to the region. “We’re excited about the event and for Jarrod (Breeding) at 201 who has brought the opportunity of some bigger races to the track,” stated the 36-year-old Kinzer, who drives an MB Customs entry sponsored by Kinzer Drilling Company.

Kinzer won the track’s opening Spring Nationals Series event on April 17th and was a huge momentum booster for the humble Kentucky native. “We’ve ran second so many times with Ray (promoter & racer Ray Cook) it was a very special race to win,” stated Kinzer, who picked up the $4,000 special event victory. The race was dedicated in memory to long-time track prep guru Johnny Salyer, who spent most of his life prepping the track located minutes from Paintsville, Ky. “It was just a very important win to us,” stated an excited Kinzer.

Red hot Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. leads the WoO LMS points by 82 markers into this triple-header weekend over Rick Eckert of York, Pa. Third through fifth in series points include Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. and Morgan Bagley of Tyler, Texas. The remaining drivers in the top-12 in series points include Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., Frank Heckenast Jr. of Orland Park, Ill., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Ks., Rick “Boom” Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., and Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill.

Expected along with the WoO LMS gang include Kentucky standouts Jackie Boggs of Grayson, Victor Lee of Danville, Michael Chilton of Salvisa, Shannon Thornsberry of Martin, Stephen Breeding and Chris Combs both of Isom, Kenneth Howell of Lovely, Paul Davis of Pilgrim, Dustin Linville of Lancaster, along with West Virginia’s father & son duo of Tim & Zack Dohm from Cross Lanes and the Ohio trio of R.J., Rod and J.T. Conley from the Conley Motorsports stable of entries along with many more.

At 201 Speedway on Friday May 16th for the Second Annual “Moonshine Runner 50” the gates will swing open at 3:00 pm with the driver’s meeting scheduled for 6:30 pm and hot laps will roll out shortly after that. The Four Cylinders will also be on the racing card for the evening’s activities gunning for $800-to-win and the Open Wheel Modifieds will race for $700-to-win. Adult general admission is $25.00 while adult pit passes will be $40.00.

A full show of Practice, Ohlins Shocks Qualifying, Heat Races, Last Chance Showdowns and 50-lap mains will be on tap each night for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series competitors.

For the 201, Smoky Mountain and Duck River swings, competing teams will be restricted to using Hoosier 1300, 1350, 1450, 1600 and 55-compound tires or American Racer 44, 48, 53 and 56-compound rubber. All of the tires will be required to punch a minimum ’40’ reading when checked with a durometer. For 201 Speedway only, the Hoosier 1425 compound will be allowed in addition to the above mentioned Hoosier compounds.

World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars Gearing Up to Battle Pennsylvania Posse at Two of the Toughest Tracks on Tour
Drivers sound off about the week ahead at Lincoln Speedway on Wednesday, Williams Grove Speedway on Friday and Saturday
ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. – May 13, 2014 – The hype will turn into action on Wednesday night at Lincoln Speedway when the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars roll into Lincoln Speedway to kick off three races this week against the vaunted PA Posse, set to defend their home dirt.

Pennsylvania’s Danny Dietrich has won the past two World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series events at Lincoln Speedway, but last year five-time champion Donny Schatz and three-time champion Sammy Swindell were closing fast at the checkered flag.

At Williams Grove, Donny Schatz continued his mastery of the half-mile paper-clip oval, winning two of the four events there and helping the Outlaws keep the Morgan Cup Trophy in their Concord, N.C., office for another year.

This season, the Outlaws enter Pennsylvania having run 24 events from Florida to Nevada, Arizona and California, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana before finally venturing to Pennsylvania and the northeast.

Joey Saldana enters the week as the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship points leader. He’s one of five different drivers to have swapped the lead in the standings nine times this season, with the top five separated by only 77 points.

With all the bragging rights a victory in central Pennsylvania warrants, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series drivers answered questions about this big week ahead:

JACOB ALLEN , driver of the Mark Pell Tire Service/Marty Thompson Racing Shark Racing #1A

On racing with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series: “Just from being out on the road and being with the best guys, not just the drivers but the mechanics, the atmosphere is top notch. It’s the best guys there are so the way you look at the track, the way the cars go around the track, the way you feel when you get in the cars is night and day from what it was last year at this time.”

On racing near home in central Pennsylvania: “I hope my odds are good at Lincoln. I like that track. Logan and I were going really good at the last race of the year there, and we’ve been feeling like we’re getting better and faster so I’m pretty hyped up about it. It’ll be a good time.”

CODY DARRAH , driver of the Ollie’s Bargain Outlets/Sage Fruit/Team ASE/Factory Kahne Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb #4

As a native Pennsylvanian, is it more comfortable racing there as opposed to other places on the tour: “It’s one of those places where I get to go and I’ve got a lot of laps growing up. Those unsure feelings that you get throughout the year where you don’t know if it’s this racetrack or not, I can go there and have a good feeling with my racecar and help our guys sort things out. Just the atmosphere of going back home and back to those tracks is an exciting thing to look forward to.”

DAVID GRAVEL , driver of the HR Livestock Roth Motorsports #83

Do the Outlaws have an advantage because of how many races the series has run this season: “It’s definitely a big part of it, racing as much as you can and you see so many different surfaces and so many different tracks, you learn to adjust well. The PA guys have been racing there for a few weeks now and I’m sure they’ve got pretty good set ups already this year.”

On your outlook in Pennsylvania after a couple of weeks in the #83 car: “I’m definitely eager to go, I ran pretty well at the National Open at Williams Grove last year. I’m looking forward to getting back there. It’s always exciting to race against the best competition, and it’s close to home.”

KRAIG KINSER , driver of the Mesilla Valley Transportation/Casey’s General Store Steve Kinser Racing #11K

Do the Outlaws have an advantage going into this week because of how many races the series has run this season: “It makes you sharper as a driver, but you might hit some of those guys at Lincoln where it’s earlier in the year and they might not be where they want to be, but when you’re talking about the Posse guys at Lincoln, it’s a tough bunch of guys that have raced there their whole lives. They’re damn good cars, damn good drivers and take them to a track we haven’t been to very often, it feels like an uphill battle going in there for me but we’ll dig down, do our best and see how it ends up.

Do you feel any animosity between the Outlaws and the Posse: “I don’t feel it that much. I have a lot of friends out there who run Pennsylvania all the time. I don’t feel that animosity in the pit area. I know at times you start feeling them more when they start talking about it more. I don’t feel that way. To me, they’re another driver trying to do their hardest.”

STEVE KINSER , driver of the Bad Boy Buggies/J.D. Byrider/Chevrolet Tony Stewart Racing #11

Do the Outlaws have an advantage going into Pennsylvania this week because of how many races the series has run this season: “I don’t know if it will help us much. Most of the stuff we’ve run has been on short tracks. Most of the time when we race a whole lot it’s hard to get freshened up and be fresh when you go in there. They’re always freshened up and waiting for you. That’s the toughest part for us running on the road. People don’t know how hard it is to keep all these motors freshened up and keep your stuff in good shape, and as we race, we all race together so all our stuff gets down together. But everybody usually gets prepared as well as they can to go there because if you don’t you’re going to be in trouble.”

KERRY MADSEN , driver of the American Racing Custom Wheels/EarthEx/Morrison Engines Keneric Racing #29

With as good as you have been running, how excited are you to take on the Pennsylvania Posse this week: “You always kind of look forward to it because the Grove is so steeped in tradition and has some really tough competitors and good teams and equipment. … They’re getting to a lot of smack talking so I’m kind of really hoping all the Outlaw guys do well. For me coming from Australia, there was Knoxville, Eldora and Williams Grove. It’s exciting to go to Williams Grove, and Lincoln is quite and event as well. It’s pretty exciting.

What would it mean to win an Outlaw show in central Pennsylvania: “It would be absolutely fantastic to win at Williams Grove. If you can win an Outlaw race in PA, it means you’re pretty much at the top.”

PAUL McMAHAN , driver of the Bair’s Tree Service/All-Star Performance CJB Motorsports #51

With Pennsylvania car owners, is there more pressure when you race at Lincoln or Williams Grove: “We always want to run good in front of the boss and his friends and family, and all our sponsors are from PA, but there’s no more pressure on me than I put on ourselves each and every night. It’s tough enough just to go to Pennsylvania and race against the Posse.

Do the Outlaws have an advantage because of how many races the series has run this season: “They have so many laps around that place in years – it’s tough on Greg (Hodnett) and the guys who changed rides – but the guys with the same teams, and even Hodnett, they’re going to be tough no matter what. They have so many laps around that place they can pretty much do it blindfolded.”

DARYN PITTMAN , driver of the Great Clips/Sage Fruit/Team ASE/Factory Kahne Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb #9

Do the Outlaws have an advantage going into Pennsylvania this week because of how many races the series has run this season: “I don’t know that we ever have an advantage going there. The competition level is going to be tough whether they’ve raced a lot or not. I think a lot of our guys are running really well, a lot of teams are running a lot better than they were at this time last year. I feel like we’re running as good, maybe even a little better, and there are five or six guys that are pretty equal right now, they can win any night. They definitely seem like they’re
on top of their game. We’re going to go in there and try to win and know that it’s going to be tough.”

On returning to Pennsylvania after having raced there from 2009-2012: “I’m excited to get back, we ran second at the National Open last fall. We were close to winning a race at Williams Grove. That was a big goal of mine, to win a race for Kasey there at a track where the 9 car has generally struggled at. We were good, just didn’t get the job done. Definitely a big goal of mine is to try to win a race there this year.”

Does your experience racing in central Pennsylvania help: “It doesn’t hurt. Whether it’s an advantage or not I don’t know but I like to think it is. I’m more confident going there. I always ran well at Williams Grove before I started racing in Pennsylvania, but definitely I feel like I’m better now than I was. It’s a humbling place, though. I can go there with as much confidence in the world and find myself in the C-main. It’s that tough. We’ll definitely go there with a confidence and hopefully we’ll win.”

JOEY SALDANA , driver of the Motter Equipment/HEMSaw/Beltline Body Shop Motter Motorsports #71M

Does racing as much as the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series has this spring help when going into Pennsylvania: “I don’t think it does. I think a lot of it is that those guys are so in tune to their racetracks. They know what it takes to go fast there. They’ve been in those situations before, but obviously being behind the wheel and racing is the best thing you can have as a driver and a crew chief and a team. Definitely them not racing and us racing is better for us, but I don’t foresee any of them not being prepared. I don’t think of them any different than an Outlaw team. They’re just Outlaw teams that run in their own backyard and they’re very prepared for when the Outlaws show up. They definitely show that when we’re there.”

How big a boost would it be to get a victory in Pennsylvania: “That would be big to any team, especially to our team. I don’t think Dan’s ever won a race in PA and I’ve only won one Outlaw show at Williams Grove, and that was a prelim. It would be huge for myself and my team. It’s definitely a booster when you go into the toughest competition in the United States and pull out a victory. We’ve been putting everything in place. You have to qualify well to even think you’re going to have a shot. You have to put yourself in position and then you have to do everything right to win the race. Hopefully we can continue our qualifying effort out there and put ourselves in that position you need to be in to have a shot at winning.

DONNY SCHATZ , driver of the STP/Armor All/Crimsafe/Chevrolet Performance Tony Stewart Racing #15

On racing against the tough Pennsylvania Posse: “Those guys race, we race. People put a lot more hype on what it really is when you get out there than what it really is. We race the same day in and day out whether it’s here, there or Pennsylvania. You don’t change anything, there are just a lot more cars, better cars, things kind of sort themselves out a little bit when it’s like that.”

On winning in locations where your crew members are from (crew chief Ricky Warner is from Carlisle, Pa.): “It’s always fun to win at your guys’ home track, or my home track, when you have guys that grew up around the place and they have a pretty close tie to it, but we obviously want to do our best everywhere we go, and you feel better when you do better at their home track. It’s been very good to us going out that way, we’re looking forward to it.”

LOGAN SCHUCHART , driver of the Your Auto Source NAPA Autocare Center/Rich Fogle Custom Pole Buildings Shark Racing #1S

On racing with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series: “Other than I-55 and Eldora, so far every track we’ve run is something we’re not familiar with. I’m looking forward to getting home and seeing my family, and I’m looking forward to racing on tracks I’m pretty familiar with and have raced a lot. Lincoln Speedway is one of my favorite tracks. It’s usually pretty fun up against the wall and fast and racy.

“I think when you go around to different tracks, even some that are similar to what you’re used to, it makes you more comfortable. I feel like I have a good racecar. We’ve learned a lot since we’ve been on the road. I wouldn’t say that I’m overconfident going back home, but I feel like if the track does something we’re not familiar with we can adapt a lot faster. I think being on the Outlaw tour has helped us a lot with getting experience at different tracks, and that will help us at home.”

JASON SIDES , driver of the Wetherington Tractor Service/VRP Shocks/Dancer Logisitics Sides Motorsports #7S

Do the Outlaws have an advantage going into this week because of how many races the series has run this season: “I think they still have the advantage at Lincoln because they race there more often than we do. It’s not one of those tracks like any place else. Same with Williams Grove, it’s long and narrow. We struggle when we go there.”

BRAD SWEET , driver of the SureTestSupplies.com/SurePointMedical.com/Sage Fruit/Team ASE/Factory Kahne Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb #49

Is it different going to race in Pennsylvania now that you’re competing full-time for a World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship: “PA for me is always tough for whatever reason. Last year we actually ran pretty well there, but the pressure has never been that high to run there. When you start running for points, finishes matter a little bit more now, so it’s a little more important to get good solid finishes out there. The competition is as tough as ever out here and out there. It’ll be tough, it’s always bragging rights and all that nonsense, but we just hope to get good finishes and hopefully we can stay close in the points. A lot of the guys in front us in points have a little more experience and run a little better in PA. We’re just hoping we can get good solid finishes and stay close in the points.”

SAMMY SWINDELL , driver of the Big Game Treestands/Eyecon Trail Cameras Big Game Motorsports #1

Do the Outlaws have an advantage because of how many races the series has run this season: “They still got way more track time than we do at those places that seem to be unique. I’ve been close at Lincoln, I just hope we can continue to get a little bit better. The track could be quite a bit different (from past years). There are a lot of things that come into play, sometimes when you go out or where you wind end up qualifying.”

Does a victory in Pennsylvania mean more than other places: “For me, not really. It’s all the same. There are a lot of good cars out there so obviously it’s harder. I’m not going to say a win here or a win there is bigger than anywhere else. They’re all big anymore. I’ll be happy to go out there and win one for myself.”

Josh Putnam Eagerly Awaits World of Outlaws Late Model Series Return Sunday to Tennessee’s Duck River Raceway Park
Alabama driver hopes for breakthrough performance against Outlaws in his territory
By Chris Tilley

WHEEL, Tenn. – May 13, 2014 – Florence, Ala., driver Josh Putnam will try to record his name on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series record books as the full-fendered tour rolls into his home track for the $10,000-to-win event this Sunday, May 18.

Duck River Raceway Park, located outside the small community of Wheel, Tenn., was all set to host World of Outlaw Late Model Series action on April 11, but Mother Nature intervened halfway through Ohlins Shocks Qualifying and the event was postponed to start in its entirety to this Sunday night. Bob Harris and crew will welcome the Outlaws for the second-ever visit. During last season’s event at Duck River, Eric Wells of Hazard, KY was victorious with the $10,000 payday in a thrilling race over Darrell Lanigan and Tim McCreadie.

The 30-year-old Putnam has somewhat struggled early this season but went out of the 2013 season in a huge way, winning the track’s Deep Fried 75 event which paid the Crimson State driver $10,000.

“We wrecked our car that we had good luck out of last year and I’ve been in the process of building a new house so the guys have been doing all the work on the car, I don’t know whether that’s a combination of me not being in the shop and doing all our homework, but we’ve had some good runs, just haven’t put everything together,” stated Putnam.

Putnam’s success last year is a good momentum as the Outlaws roll into town.

“We’re kind of a smaller group here, it’s all family oriented, and to run against those guys it’s a privilege. For those guys to give me the respect to put these things wheel to wheel on a track like this, I’m telling you this baby is wide open a lot of times, we run that whole race (2013 edition of the Deep Fried 75) in low lap times close to what we qualified in, even in lapped traffic and stuff I didn’t get a mark on the car, it’s a privilege to run with those guys and to get a win. If we could put that thing in there for the World of Outlaws, I’d be speechless, just like I was for the Deep Fried. We come off last year with a lot of momentum, it hasn’t showed this year yet, the stars haven’t lined yet, but maybe we’ll get them there,” stated Putnam.

When it comes to tires, Putnam says he’s at a disadvantage on more open compound tires.

“It’s a disadvantage to me, we’ve got several selections there and I’m going to really have to think through this and rely on others to ask some questions. Brian and Charles with Hoosier, those guys are great to me, but the hard tire rule (from last year’s Deep Fried 75) you always think back when you’re doing your homework and looking at your notes, you look at times that we’re turned on hard tires here and you want to think to come here and watch your times on soft stuff, but you never know, you get a long green flag run at this thing, and if I take the gamble and put hard tires on, that might be the race winning gamble,” Putnam said.

Putnam and team have traveled with the Southern All Stars this year and by running a few different compounds he feels that attributes to his tire learning curve. “We’re getting better, I’m learning, maybe that’s some of our struggle this year, not really knowing exactly what to do on the tires. We ran that Southern Regional deal the last four or five years and ran that hard tire rule on the back, that’s what you run. So maybe we can rely on some of those guys and pull one off but I think we still have a good hand in it,” stated Putnam.

“The track has been good so far this year, Bob (Harris) has a hard tire rule and it’s been right on the track record with hard tires. Duck River widens out and gets racy, its action packed. I think we’ll all be good with it,” said Putnam about track conditions this year.

The team looks to get back to basics as the Outlaws roll back in to Duck River this weekend.

“Since we’ve struggled we’ve been looking for the help we need and a lot of help from Bob (Pierce) on these race cars. Since we’ve struggled we really went on a limb and tried some different stuff from last year just car wise and now we’re back to square one. We went back to our baseline that we we’re good on last year and let’s get our momentum from there, maybe the direction we wasn’t going was what I need as a driver, and what little Bobby (Pierce) has done in that race car in the last few weeks is mind blowing to me to watch his car, I just haven’t found that yet. We’re different, and I can’t run the same things that Bob has, we have found that out,” stated Putnam about his relationship with chassis builder Bob Pierce.

Gates open at Noon Central on Sunday at Duck River with racing beginning at 7:00 pm. Adult general admission is $25 while pit passes are $40. The 2-Barrel/Crate Late Models, Pure Pony, Pure Stock, Modified Street and Outlaw Pony Classes will all be on the racing card. Tickets and armbands for both the stands and pits from the April 11th rainout will be good for this event at Duck River.

Tanner & Terry English of Benton, Ky., along with Shelbyville, Tenn., driver Daniel Miller, Brad Skinner of Springhill, Tenn., David Seibers of Petersburg, Tenn., Jason Hiett of Oxford, Ala, Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn., Riley Hickman of Chattanooga, Tenn., Skylar Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., Eric Hickerson of Linden, Tenn., Caleb Ashby of Cunningham, Tenn. along with National Stars Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C. and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga. are expected to be in attendance for one of the largest events the track will host all season.

A full show of Practice, Ohlins Shocks Qualifying, Heat Races, Last Chance Showdowns and 50-lap mains will be on tap at Duck River for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series competitors.

For the 201, Smoky Mountain and Duck River swings, competing teams will be restricted to using Hoosier 1300, 1350, 1450, 1600 and 55-compound tires or American Racer 44, 48, 53 and 56-compound rubber. All of the tires will be required to punch a minimum ’40’ reading when checked with a durometer. For 201 Speedway only, the Hoosier 1425 compound will be allowed in addition to the above mentioned Hoosier compounds.

McMahan holds off Kinser for Tri-State Speedway Victory
Earns second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season, first of career at storied Indiana quarter-mile
HAUBSTADT, Ind. – May 10, 2014 – Paul McMahan held off Steve Kinser on a wild Saturday night at Tri-State Speedway to earn his second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory of the season, and the first win of his career at the historic quarter-mile dirt oval in southwestern Indiana.

Packed grandstands were buzzing when legends Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell earned front-row starting positions for the 40-lap main event. Joey Saldana and McMahan lined up a row behind them and gave chase when the green flag waved.

Swindell jumped out quickly on the high-side of the track while Kinser tried to make the bottom lane work to his advantage. Swindell’s momentum carried him into the lead with Kinser in tow. It took only five laps for Swindell to catch the tail of the field, then four laps later he was trying to pass his brother, Jeff Swindell, when the two made contact at the end of the front stretch. Just like that, Sammy Swindell’s shot at winning was over. Unfortunately, Saldana was right behind the crash and couldn’t miss it. Both Jeff Swindell and Saldana were able to restart as Kinser moved to the point.

McMahan and David Gravel, who finished second last year at Tri-State, chased Kinser back to green while the three-car Kasey Kahne Racing team of Cody Darrah, Daryn Pittman and Brad Sweet all battled for position right behind the leaders.

On the restart, Kinser again tried to make the bottom work in his Tony Stewart Racing Bad Boy Buggies car while McMahan sailed around the cushion on the top of the track in his CJB Motorsports machine. McMahan tried to extend his lead, but it didn’t take long before he was in heavy traffic, letting Kinser keep close.

Kinser was reeling McMahan back in as they were setting up for the final 10 laps when the caution flag waved once more, this time for defending series champion Pittman, who had gotten sideways in turn 4.

McMahan, a Calfornia native who now lives near Nashville, Tenn., went to the top again on the restart and made it work when just four laps later Brad Sweet spun to a stop in turn 2 with 33 laps in the books. The ensuing restart gave Kerry Madsen and his 11th-starting American Racing Custom Wheels car the chance to catch and pass Gravel for third.

With five to go, a final caution waved when Critter Malone, who had raced all the way from 21st into the top five, made contact with Darrah, which led eventually to Malone collecting Paul May and Jacob Allen, bringing out the caution for a fourth time.

By this point, McMahan’s nerves were certainly wary about what kind of move Kinser would make. It was an electric night in which the track celebrated Kinser’s “Salute to the King” tour during opening ceremonies. Kinser would love nothing more than to earn his ninth Outlaw victory at a track where he’s made so much history.

McMahan, though, was determined to make a little history of his own. He charged back to the lead and with clear track opened as big a lead as he could to cruise to his second victory of the season and the first of his career at Tri-State Speedway.

Madsen finished third, Gravel was fourth and Saldana, who was caught up in that first incident with nine laps complete, came from the back to finish fifth.

“I love this place, I’ve been coming here a long time,” said an emotional McMahan, who celebrated the win with a number of friends and family in attendance. “Sammy had a real good car. Of all the people for him to get caught up with, he got caught up with his brother. Once I got to the outside of Steve I thought I might have a shot at it. Then all those restarts, they scared the crap out of me. I was just waiting for Steve to come flying in there because he had nothing to lose. That curb is awful big and on that last restart I kind of got on top of it, but I don’t think Steve gave me a big slider and I was able to gather it back up and get back out there. I knew once I got a lap in I would be pretty hard to pass.”

Kinser no doubt was pushing as hard as he could for another victory at Tri-State in front of a crowd that was definitely hoping to celebrate a win for the King of the Outlaws.

“I let everybody down including myself,” said Kinser, of Bloomington, Ind. “I did all I could do, I just took the wrong spot a couple of times. I thought the bottom was better but I couldn’t get it turned and twisted back down there, just ran second, that’s all I can say.”

Kinser was aware that first Swindell, then McMahan were gaining the advantage on the high side of the track, but he was committed to running the lower groove.

“That’s what I did, I killed my tires, got them all blistered up and got to shaking on the second to last yellow. I let everybody get back out in front of me and up on the top. I had to try something so I ran the middle and that just killed my tires.”

Madsen was just pleased to be on the podium after starting mid-pack.

“I was pretty ugly early, I didn’t know where to put it,” said Madsen, of St. Marys, New South Wales, Australia. “Once I figured out how to drive the thing I was running a slide job line and I got some good restarts that worked for me. As the race progressed I got better and better. I felt like I could have had run at Steve there at the end, but if something went bad half of southern Indiana would have been after me in the pits so we’ll just take a third and call it good.”

With 24 races and 13 different winners in the books, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series invades Pennsylvania on Wednesday for the Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln Speedway then rolls Friday and Saturday into Williams Grove Speedway.

TRI-STATE SPEEDWAY NOTES: Paul McMahan was the fastest qualifier around the quarter-mile Tri-State Speedway dirt oval. It was McMahan’s fourth quick-time of the season to earn five championship points. Also earning qualifying points were Sammy Swindell (4 points), Joey Saldana (3), Steve Kinser (2) and Brady Bacon (1). … David Gravel, Daryn Pittman and Joey Saldana won heat races. … The dash draw was a 4 for the seventh time this year. … Steve Kinser won the dash to earn his second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series A-main pole of the season.

WINNERS: Brad Sweet – 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Tucson International Raceway on March 8 and Calistoga Speedway on April 5); Daryn Pittman – 3 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 14, Calistoga Speedway on April 6 and Devil’s Bowl Speedway on April 19);Donny Schatz – 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 6 and Devil’s Bowl Speedway on April 19);     David Gravel – 3 (Merced Speedway on March 28, Eldora Speedway on May 3, and Wilmot Raceway on May 9); Kerry Madsen – 2 (Stockton Dirt track on March 22 and El Paso Speedway Park on April 15); Paul McMahan – 2 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 5, Tri-State Speedway on May 10); Joey Saldana – 2 (Perris Auto Speedway on April 12 and Salina Highbanks on April 25);Rico Abreu – 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 15); Cody Darrah – 1 (Kings Speedway on April 11);Steve Kinser – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 16); Shane Stewart – 1 (Eldora Speedway on May 2)    ; Sammy Swindell – 1 (Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on April 26).

World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Tri-State Speedway; Haubstadt, Ind.; May 10, 2014

A-Main – (40 Laps): 1. 51-Paul McMahan [4] [$10,000]; 2. 11-Steve Kinser [1] [$5,500]; 3. 29-Kerry Madsen [11] [$3,200]; 4. 83-David Gravel [6] [$2,800]; 5. 71M-Joey Saldana [3] [$2,500]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [22] [$2,300]; 7. 99-Brady Bacon [5] [$2,200]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet [9] [$2,100]; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13] [$2,050]; 10. 7S-Jason Sides [14] [$2,000]; 11. 4-Cody Darrah [7] [$1,500]; 12. 71MX-Paul May [16] [$1,200]; 13. 7-Critter Malone [21] [$1,100]; 14. 4S-Danny Smith [10] [$1,050]; 15. 9-Daryn Pittman [8] [$1,000]; 16. W20-Greg
Wilson [23] [$900]; 17. 94-Jeff Swindell [20] [$800]; 18. 1A-Jacob Allen [19] [$800]; 19. 12-Robert Ballou [12] [$800]; 20. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [18] [$800]; 21. 79-Blake Nimee [24] [$800]; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart [17] [$800]; 23. 1-Sammy Swindell [2] [$800]; 24. 17M-Joey Moughan [15] [$800]. Lap Leaders: Sammy Swindell 1-9, Paul McMahan 10-40.    KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz [+16]

Qualifying: 1. 51-Paul McMahan, 12.188; 2. 1-Sammy Swindell, 12.248; 3. 71M-Joey Saldana, 12.303; 4. 11-Steve Kinser, 12.321; 5. 99-Brady Bacon, 12.366; 6. 4-Cody Darrah, 12.387; 7. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.388; 8. 4S-Danny Smith, 12.459; 9. 29-Kerry Madsen, 12.475; 10. 83-David Gravel, 12.509; 11. 9-Daryn Pittman, 12.525; 12. 12-Robert Ballou, 12.643; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.651; 14. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.653; 15. 17M-Joey Moughan, 12.664; 16. 71MX-Paul May, 12.691; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.700; 18. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 12.748; 19. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.771; 20. 4K-Kody Kinser, 12.777; 21. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.800; 22. 94-Jeff Swindell, 12.808; 23. 7-Critter Malone, 12.863; 24. 79-Blake Nimee, 13.045; 25. 23-Russell Borland, 13.148; 26. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.363

Heat 1 – (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 83-David Gravel [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 3. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5]; 4. 11-Steve Kinser [3]; 5. 51-Paul McMahan [4]; 6. 94-Jeff Swindell [8]; 7. W20-Greg Wilson [7]; 8. 71MX-Paul May [6]; 9. 23-Russell Borland [9]

Heat 2 – (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [1]; 2. 4S-Danny Smith [2]; 3. 1-Sammy Swindell [4]; 4. 99-Brady Bacon [3]; 5. 7S-Jason Sides [5]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [9]; 7. 7-Critter Malone [8]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6]; 9. 4K-Kody Kinser [7]

Heat 3 – (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 71M-Joey Saldana [4]; 2. 12-Robert Ballou [1]; 3. 4-Cody Darrah [3]; 4. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [6]; 5. 29-Kerry Madsen [2]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [7]; 7. 17M-Joey Moughan [5]; 8. 79-Blake Nimee [8]

Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 8 starting positions of A-feature): 1. 11-Steve Kinser [1]; 2. 1-Sammy Swindell [3]; 3. 71M-Joey Saldana [2]; 4. 51-Paul McMahan [4]; 5. 99-Brady Bacon [5]; 6. 83-David Gravel [7]; 7. 4-Cody Darrah [6]; 8. 9-Daryn Pittman [8]

Last Chance Showdown – (12 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 17M-Joey Moughan [1] [-]; 2. 71MX-Paul May [2] [-]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3] [-]; 4. 7-Critter Malone [5] [-]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson [4] [-]; 6. 79-Blake Nimee [6] [-]; 7. 23-Russell Borland [7] [$200]; 8. 4K-Kody Kinser [8] [$180]

McMahan holds off Kinser for Tri-State Speedway Victory
Earns second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season, first of career at storied Indiana quarter-mile
HAUBSTADT, Ind. – May 10, 2014 – Paul McMahan held off Steve Kinser on a wild Saturday night at Tri-State Speedway to earn his second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory of the season, and the first win of his career at the historic quarter-mile dirt oval in southwestern Indiana.

Packed grandstands were buzzing when legends Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell earned front-row starting positions for the 40-lap main event. Joey Saldana and McMahan lined up a row behind them and gave chase when the green flag waved.

Swindell jumped out quickly on the high-side of the track while Kinser tried to make the bottom lane work to his advantage. Swindell’s momentum carried him into the lead with Kinser in tow. It took only five laps for Swindell to catch the tail of the field, then four laps later he was trying to pass his brother, Jeff Swindell, when the two made contact at the end of the front stretch. Just like that, Sammy Swindell’s shot at winning was over. Unfortunately, Saldana was right behind the crash and couldn’t miss it. Both Jeff Swindell and Saldana were able to restart as Kinser moved to the point.

McMahan and David Gravel, who finished second last year at Tri-State, chased Kinser back to green while the three-car Kasey Kahne Racing team of Cody Darrah, Daryn Pittman and Brad Sweet all battled for position right behind the leaders.

On the restart, Kinser again tried to make the bottom work in his Tony Stewart Racing Bad Boy Buggies car while McMahan sailed around the cushion on the top of the track in his CJB Motorsports machine. McMahan tried to extend his lead, but it didn’t take long before he was in heavy traffic, letting Kinser keep close.

Kinser was reeling McMahan back in as they were setting up for the final 10 laps when the caution flag waved once more, this time for defending series champion Pittman, who had gotten sideways in turn 4.

McMahan, a Calfornia native who now lives near Nashville, Tenn., went to the top again on the restart and made it work when just four laps later Brad Sweet spun to a stop in turn 2 with 33 laps in the books. The ensuing restart gave Kerry Madsen and his 11th-starting American Racing Custom Wheels car the chance to catch and pass Gravel for third.

With five to go, a final caution waved when Critter Malone, who had raced all the way from 21st into the top five, made contact with Darrah, which led eventually to Malone collecting Paul May and Jacob Allen, bringing out the caution for a fourth time.

By this point, McMahan’s nerves were certainly wary about what kind of move Kinser would make. It was an electric night in which the track celebrated Kinser’s “Salute to the King” tour during opening ceremonies. Kinser would love nothing more than to earn his ninth Outlaw victory at a track where he’s made so much history.

McMahan, though, was determined to make a little history of his own. He charged back to the lead and with clear track opened as big a lead as he could to cruise to his second victory of the season and the first of his career at Tri-State Speedway.

Madsen finished third, Gravel was fourth and Saldana, who was caught up in that first incident with nine laps complete, came from the back to finish fifth.

“I love this place, I’ve been coming here a long time,” said an emotional McMahan, who celebrated the win with a number of friends and family in attendance. “Sammy had a real good car. Of all the people for him to get caught up with, he got caught up with his brother. Once I got to the outside of Steve I thought I might have a shot at it. Then all those restarts, they scared the crap out of me. I was just waiting for Steve to come flying in there because he had nothing to lose. That curb is awful big and on that last restart I kind of got on top of it, but I don’t think Steve gave me a big slider and I was able to gather it back up and get back out there. I knew once I got a lap in I would be pretty hard to pass.”

Kinser no doubt was pushing as hard as he could for another victory at Tri-State in front of a crowd that was definitely hoping to celebrate a win for the King of the Outlaws.

“I let everybody down including myself,” said Kinser, of Bloomington, Ind. “I did all I could do, I just took the wrong spot a couple of times. I thought the bottom was better but I couldn’t get it turned and twisted back down there, just ran second, that’s all I can say.”

Kinser was aware that first Swindell, then McMahan were gaining the advantage on the high side of the track, but he was committed to running the lower groove.

“That’s what I did, I killed my tires, got them all blistered up and got to shaking on the second to last yellow. I let everybody get back out in front of me and up on the top. I had to try something so I ran the middle and that just killed my tires.”

Madsen was just pleased to be on the podium after starting mid-pack.

“I was pretty ugly early, I didn’t know where to put it,” said Madsen, of St. Marys, New South Wales, Australia. “Once I figured out how to drive the thing I was running a slide job line and I got some good restarts that worked for me. As the race progressed I got better and better. I felt like I could have had run at Steve there at the end, but if something went bad half of southern Indiana would have been after me in the pits so we’ll just take a third and call it good.”

With 24 races and 13 different winners in the books, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series invades Pennsylvania on Wednesday for the Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln Speedway then rolls Friday and Saturday into Williams Grove Speedway.

TRI-STATE SPEEDWAY NOTES: Paul McMahan was the fastest qualifier around the quarter-mile Tri-State Speedway dirt oval. It was McMahan’s fourth quick-time of the season to earn five championship points. Also earning qualifying points were Sammy Swindell (4 points), Joey Saldana (3), Steve Kinser (2) and Brady Bacon (1). … David Gravel, Daryn Pittman and Joey Saldana won heat races. … The dash draw was a 4 for the seventh time this year. … Steve Kinser won the dash to earn his second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series A-main pole of the season.

WINNERS: Brad Sweet – 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Tucson International Raceway on March 8 and Calistoga Speedway on April 5); Daryn Pittman – 3 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 14, Calistoga Speedway on April 6 and Devil’s Bowl Speedway on April 19);Donny Schatz – 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 6 and Devil’s Bowl Speedway on April 19);     David Gravel – 3 (Merced Speedway on March 28, Eldora Speedway on May 3, and Wilmot Raceway on May 9); Kerry Madsen – 2 (Stockton Dirt track on March 22 and El Paso Speedway Park on April 15); Paul McMahan – 2 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 5, Tri-State Speedway on May 10); Joey Saldana – 2 (Perris Auto Speedway on April 12 and Salina Highbanks on April 25);Rico Abreu – 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 15); Cody Darrah – 1 (Kings Speedway on April 11);Steve Kinser – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 16); Shane Stewart – 1 (Eldora Speedway on May 2)    ; Sammy Swindell – 1 (Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on April 26).

World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Tri-State Speedway; Haubstadt, Ind.; May 10, 2014

A-Main – (40 Laps): 1. 51-Paul McMahan [4] [$10,000]; 2. 11-Steve Kinser [1] [$5,500]; 3. 29-Kerry Madsen [11] [$3,200]; 4. 83-David Gravel [6] [$2,800]; 5. 71M-Joey Saldana [3] [$2,500]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [22] [$2,300]; 7. 99-Brady Bacon [5] [$2,200]; 8. 49-Brad Sweet [9] [$2,100]; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13] [$2,050]; 10. 7S-Jason Sides [14] [$2,000]; 11. 4-Cody Darrah [7] [$1,500]; 12. 71MX-Paul May [16] [$1,200]; 13. 7-Critter Malone [21] [$1,100]; 14. 4S-Danny Smith [10] [$1,050]; 15. 9-Daryn Pittman [8] [$1,000]; 16. W20-Greg
Wilson [23] [$900]; 17. 94-Jeff Swindell [20] [$800]; 18. 1A-Jacob Allen [19] [$800]; 19. 12-Robert Ballou [12] [$800]; 20. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [18] [$800]; 21. 79-Blake Nimee [24] [$800]; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart [17] [$800]; 23. 1-Sammy Swindell [2] [$800]; 24. 17M-Joey Moughan [15] [$800]. Lap Leaders: Sammy Swindell 1-9, Paul McMahan 10-40.    KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz [+16]

Qualifying: 1. 51-Paul McMahan, 12.188; 2. 1-Sammy Swindell, 12.248; 3. 71M-Joey Saldana, 12.303; 4. 11-Steve Kinser, 12.321; 5. 99-Brady Bacon, 12.366; 6. 4-Cody Darrah, 12.387; 7. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.388; 8. 4S-Danny Smith, 12.459; 9. 29-Kerry Madsen, 12.475; 10. 83-David Gravel, 12.509; 11. 9-Daryn Pittman, 12.525; 12. 12-Robert Ballou, 12.643; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.651; 14. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.653; 15. 17M-Joey Moughan, 12.664; 16. 71MX-Paul May, 12.691; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.700; 18. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 12.748; 19. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.771; 20. 4K-Kody Kinser, 12.777; 21. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.800; 22. 94-Jeff Swindell, 12.808; 23. 7-Critter Malone, 12.863; 24. 79-Blake Nimee, 13.045; 25. 23-Russell Borland, 13.148; 26. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.363

Heat 1 – (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 83-David Gravel [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 3. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5]; 4. 11-Steve Kinser [3]; 5. 51-Paul McMahan [4]; 6. 94-Jeff Swindell [8]; 7. W20-Greg Wilson [7]; 8. 71MX-Paul May [6]; 9. 23-Russell Borland [9]

Heat 2 – (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [1]; 2. 4S-Danny Smith [2]; 3. 1-Sammy Swindell [4]; 4. 99-Brady Bacon [3]; 5. 7S-Jason Sides [5]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [9]; 7. 7-Critter Malone [8]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6]; 9. 4K-Kody Kinser [7]

Heat 3 – (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 71M-Joey Saldana [4]; 2. 12-Robert Ballou [1]; 3. 4-Cody Darrah [3]; 4. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [6]; 5. 29-Kerry Madsen [2]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [7]; 7. 17M-Joey Moughan [5]; 8. 79-Blake Nimee [8]

Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 8 starting positions of A-feature): 1. 11-Steve Kinser [1]; 2. 1-Sammy Swindell [3]; 3. 71M-Joey Saldana [2]; 4. 51-Paul McMahan [4]; 5. 99-Brady Bacon [5]; 6. 83-David Gravel [7]; 7. 4-Cody Darrah [6]; 8. 9-Daryn Pittman [8]

Last Chance Showdown – (12 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 17M-Joey Moughan [1] [-]; 2. 71MX-Paul May [2] [-]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3] [-]; 4. 7-Critter Malone [5] [-]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson [4] [-]; 6. 79-Blake Nimee [6] [-]; 7. 23-Russell Borland [7] [$200]; 8. 4K-Kody Kinser [8] [$180]

Gravel Continues to Shine at Roth Motorsports, Earns Wilmot Victory
The 21-year-old racer wins his third World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car race of 2014
WILMOT, Wis. – May 9, 2014 – David Gravel is settling in nicely behind the wheel of the Roth Motorsports #83 car, winning a thriller on Friday night at Wilmot Raceway for his second victory in the past three World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series events.

Gravel, of Watertown, Conn., is now tied for the series lead with three victories this season after he held off a late charge by Joey Saldana, Paul McMahan and Brad Sweet at the 1/3-mile clay oval in southeastern Wisconsin.

As is often the case, this 30-lap feature came down to just a few split-second decisions. Gravel started on the pole for the second time this season, but it was Saldana on the outside who got the jump going into the first turn on the high side of the track. When Phil Mock spun to a stop in turn four with seven laps complete, the entire complexion of the race was about to change.

Saldana chose the outside lane on the double-file restart. It had worked for him only seven laps earlier, he expected it to work again. Gravel was to his inside with McMahan, Kraig Kinser and Steve Kinser breathing down their necks. Green waved and Saldana again rode the cushion, but this time Gravel found just enough speed on the bottom to slide up in front of Saldana and into the lead on lap eight.

When three cars tangled with 12 laps in the books for another caution, Gravel figured he better stay on the bottom, and he was right. Gravel raced back to the lead with Saldana and McMahan in tow, and Brad Sweet charging into fourth.

Gravel tried but he couldn’t completely escape Saldana and McMahan as they gave chase. Sweet joined the fray and with a couple laps to go the four cars raced nose-to-tail, waiting to see who might bobble.

But Gravel was solid in only his fourth start for Roth Motorsports. Saldana and McMahan gave it everything they had. A spinning car hampered McMahan’s momentum and allowed Sweet to pounce for a moment before McMahan went to the high side and charged back around. Saldana also went to the top in a last-lap shot at getting his car owner, Dan Motter, a special birthday victory.

It wasn’t to be, though, for Saldana or McMahan on this night. Gravel continues to prove he’ll be a force in the sport for a long time to come.

“It’s been a dream come true,” said the 21-year-old Gravel, who has driven for three different car owners this season on the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series tour. “It’s just amazing. We’ve been so fast every time we’ve been on the track. We had a lot of adversity with things happening and motor trouble and all that. I wish I was in this car at the beginning of the year.”

Gravel, who also has wins this season at Merced (Calif.) Speedway and Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, can empathize with Saldana on that crucial restart. Just last week at Eldora he was in a similar situation.

“It’s just one of those things, when you get put in those situations and start on the front row, you get used to it and try to treat it like any other start,” said Gravel, who dedicated the victory to his former car owner, Tom Leidig, who fell ill this past week. “Joey got the lead and at Eldora I lost the lead early, too. I’m sure Joey wishes he chose the bottom on that restart. Everything worked our way. I can’t believe how good we’re running this year.”

Saldana pushed forward in his Motter Equipment/HEMSaw car during the waning laps, but it wasn’t to be. His runner-up finish was enough, however, to catapult his team back into the championship lead for the second time this season.

“Hats off to the whole Roth team,” said Saldana, of Brownsburg, Ind. “They did an awesome job, they were good all night. I definitely chose the wrong line and paid the price for it. We got to lapped traffic and Paul showed me where I needed to be and I got moving around a lot better. I had a shot there, I just didn’t get it done.

“If it worked before you want to use it again and it just didn’t work. The biggest thing is the guys behind me are pretty smart racers, too, and when I saw Paul moving around there I knew I needed to start moving around. We were in the right spot, just didn’t get it done.”

McMahan had found a lane that was helping his CJB Motorsports car gain on Gravel and Saldana with about 10 laps to go. Then suddenly Paul Nienhiser’s spinning car blocked his path, yet the car kept running to avoid a caution. The damage had been done, though, for McMahan as that single moment broke his stride, allowing Sweet to close in for a shot at a podium finish. McMahan went high, Sweet went low and down the stretch it was McMahan regaining the momentum he needed to hold the third spot.

“We were pretty good, we just got cars spinning out and doing 360s, it cost me a lot,” said McMahan, of Nashville, Tenn. “I lost a lot of ground to Joey and David there. We had a pretty good race car. I was racing with Joe and he was running the bottom so I had to move up and that opened the bottom for Brad. He gave me a big flyer at the end, but I was able to keep up on the top and just barely beat him to the finish line.”

Gravel’s three victories ties him with Sweet, Donny Schatz and Daryn Pittman for the most wins by any single driver so far this season.

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series is back in action on Saturday at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., before the series invades Pennsylvania next week on Wednesday at Lincoln Speedway then Friday and Saturday at Williams Grove Speedway.

WILMOT RACEWAY NOTES: Friday night marked the third time the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series raced at Wilmot, with Mark Dobmeier winning in 2006 and Daryn Pittman winning in 2008. … Cody Darrah was the fastest qualifier around the 1/3-mile Wilmot Raceway, marking Darrah’s first quick-time of the season. Also earning qualifying points were Brad Sweet (4 points), Joey Saldana (3), Paul McMahan (2) and Steve Kinser (1). … Kraig Kinser, Daryn Pittman, David Gravel and Jason Sides earned heat race victories. … The dash draw was a 6 for the 10th time this year. … David Gravel won the dash to earn his second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series A-main pole of the season.

WINNERS: Brad Sweet – 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Tucson International Raceway on March 8 and Calistoga Speedway on April 5); Daryn Pittman – 3 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 14, Calistoga Speedway on April 6 and Devil’s Bowl Speedway on April 19); Donny Schatz – 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 6 and Devil’s Bowl Speedway on April 19);     David Gravel – 3 (Merced Speedway on March 28, Eldora Speedway on May 3, and Wilmot Raceway on May 9); Kerry Madsen – 2 (Stockton Dirt track on March 22 and El Paso Speedway Park on April 15); Joey Saldana – 2 (Perris Auto Speedway on April 12 and Salina Highbanks on April 25); Rico Abreu – 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 15); Cody Darrah – 1 (Kings Speedway on April 11); Steve Kinser – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 16); Paul McMahan – 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 5);     Shane Stewart – 1 (Eldora Speedway on May 2); Sammy Swindell – 1 (Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on April 26).

World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Wilmot (Wis.) Raceway; May 9, 2014

A-Main – (30 Laps): 1. 83-David Gravel [1][$10,000]; 2. 71M-Joey Saldana [2][$5,500]; 3. 51-Paul McMahan [3][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [4][$2,500]; 6. 11-Steve Kinser [9][$2,300]; 7. 29-Kerry Madsen [14][$2,200]; 8. 9-Daryn Pittman [6][$2,100]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz [10][$2,050]; 10. 1-Sammy Swindell [12][$2,000]; 11. 7S-Jason Sides [8][$1,500]; 12. 4-Cody Darrah [7][$1,200]; 13. 18-Ian Madsen [15][$1,100]; 14. 7-Craig Dollansky [17][$1,050]; 15. 17B-Bill Balog [11][$1,000]; 16. 77X-Wayne Johnson [13][$900]; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart [24][$800]; 18. W20-Greg Wilson [18][$800]; 19. 17M-Joey Moughan
[22][$800]; 20. 5J-Jeremy Schultz [23][$800]; 21. 1M-Phillip Mock [20][$800]; 22. 79-Blake Nimee [21][$800]; 23. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [16][$800]; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen [19][$800]. Lap Leaders: Joey Saldana 1-7, David Gravel 8-30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 29-Kerry Madsen [+7]

Qualifying: 1. 4-Cody Darrah, 12.815; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.817; 3. 71M-Joey Saldana, 12.865; 4. 51-Paul McMahan, 12.886; 5. 11-Steve Kinser, 12.927; 6. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.983; 7. 17B-Bill Balog, 12.986; 8. 1-Sammy Swindell, 12.994; 9. 77X-Wayne Johnson, 13.012; 10. 29-Kerry Madsen, 13.045; 11. 83-David Gravel, 13.071; 12. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.077; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.080; 14. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.092; 15. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 13.128; 16. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.186; 17. 7-Craig Dollansky, 13.230; 18. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.253; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.274; 20. 1M-Phillip Mock, 13.281; 21. 19-Todd Daun, 13.289; 22. 79-Blake Nimee, 13.296; 23. 17M-Joey Moughan, 13.300; 24. 5J-Jeremy Schultz, 13.365; 25. 4S-Danny Smith, 13.393; 26. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.491; 27. 68-Dave Uttech, 13.511; 28. 94-Brandon Thone, 13.602; 29. 7U-Scott Uttech, 13.651; 30. 83D-Tommy Sexton, 13.654; 31. 43-Jereme Schroeder, 13.672; 32. 23-Russell Borland, 13.708

Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 11K-Kraig Kinser [1]; 2. 11-Steve Kinser [3]; 3. 4-Cody Darrah [4]; 4. 77X-Wayne Johnson [2]; 5. 7-Craig Dollansky [5]; 6. 4S-Danny Smith [7]; 7. 19-Todd Daun [6]; 8. 7U-Scott Uttech [8]

Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [1]; 2. 29-Kerry Madsen [2]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [3]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [4]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson [5]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7]; 7. 83D-Tommy Sexton [8]; 8. 79-Blake Nimee [6]

Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 83-David Gravel [2]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog [3]; 3. 71M-Joey Saldana [4]; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen [5]; 5. 17M-Joey Moughan [6]; 6. 68-Dave Uttech [7]; 7. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [1]; 8. 43-Jereme Schroeder [8]

Heat 4 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 7S-Jason Sides [1]; 2. 51-Paul McMahan [4]; 3. 1-Sammy Swindell [3]; 4. 18-Ian Madsen [2]; 5. 5J-Jeremy Schultz [6]; 6. 1M-Phillip Mock [5]; 7. 94-Brandon Thone [7]; 8. 23-Russell Borland [8]

Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 8 starting positions of A-feature): 1. 83-David Gravel [2]; 2. 71M-Joey Saldana [4]; 3. 51-Paul McMahan [3]; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser [1]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [5]; 6. 9-Daryn Pittman [7]; 7. 4-Cody Darrah [6]; 8. 7S-Jason Sides [8]

Last Chance Showdown – (12 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature): 1. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [1] [-]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6] [-]; 3. 1M-Phillip Mock [2] [-]; 4. 79-Blake Nimee [4] [-]; 5. 4S-Danny Smith [5] [$200]; 6. 19-Todd Daun [3] [$180]; 7. 83D-Tommy Sexton [10] [$175]; 8. 68-Dave Uttech [7] [$160]; 9. 43-Jereme Schroeder [11] [$150]; 10. 23-Russell Borland [12] [$150]; 11. 7U-Scott Uttech [9] [$150]; 12. 94-Brandon Thone [8] [$150]

Bell Earns First World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Victory of His Career
19-year-old star holds off champions Pittman, Schatz at Jacksonville Speedway
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – May 7, 2014 – Christopher Bell, a 19-year-old rising star from Oklahoma, held off champions Daryn Pittman and Donny Schatz in front of sold-out grandstands on Wednesday night at Jacksonville Speedway to earn the first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory of his career.

On one of the smallest, most unique venues the Outlaws will see this season, Bell was masterful as he weaved through constant traffic after getting the jump on the initial green flag in the 40-lap A-main at Jacksonville’s quarter-mile oval.

In a race slowed by three cautions, Bell, of Norman, Okla., was near perfect on each restart as he worked the high side of the track while behind him cars scattered high and low trying to catch him.

Midway through the main event, Bell was in heavy traffic, trying to work through the pack on the top of the track as Pittman and Schatz moved to the bottom in an effort to sneak through. By lap 25, though, the leaders cleared the lapped cars and again Bell started to pull away.

A final caution with 10 to go reset the field and gave Bell clear track in his Fox Racing #53, which he used to power to victory by .976 over runner-up Pittman and third-place finishing Schatz. Pittman’s Kasey Kahne Racing teammates, Brad Sweet and Cody Darrah, rounded out the top five.

“It’s a dream come true,” Bell said. “It’s been such an up-and-down year for me, especially in this 53 car. We’ve been really good, but we’ve also been really bad. Last week we went to Eldora and we were terrible. We were fortunate to make the show but we were lapped traffic both nights. To come here and get a win, that’s somethinan g special. It’s always been a lifelong dream to be able to win Outlaw race so it’s a special night I’ll never forget.”

It also wasn’t lost on Bell that Pittman, a fellow Oklahoman, was trying to chase him down in the Great Clips #9 car.

“Daryn has been somebody I’ve really looked up to, one of my favorite Outlaw guys, so to be able to run first to him and Donny Schatz, all these guys are the best in the world, it’s an honor to be able to race with them let alone be able to compete with them and run up front.”

Warm temperatures and a steady wind combined with 900-horsepower motors on a short quarter-mile finally caught up with the racing surface toward the end of the 40-lapper, but the leaders had no choice but to continue battling through constant traffic.

“Once we got to lapped cars, Chris drove on the outside of them, trying to get by a couple,” said Pittman, the defending series champion from Owasso, Okla. “He was way faster five laps before he got to them, then by the time he got to them they were running the same pace. I kind of got down there before he did. I’m sure he knew it was there, but he was still trying to get by some lapped cars.

“Hats off to him, obviously he’s an extremely talented young kid and not too bad for a couple of Oklahoma boys tonight. I’m pretty proud to run second to him. It’s no surprise to anybody in the pits that he was going to win an Outlaw show, if not this year then really soon.”

Schatz’s Tony Stewart Racing STP/Armor All #15 car was strong all night in the low groove. He set quick time to get things rolling, but a six-car inversion in the dash forced him to race to the front, where he earned the outside pole for the feature. Pittman slipped ahead of Schatz on a wild start and the two tried to catch Bell the rest of the night.

“We were good through the middle and the bottom and I wasn’t going to get up and toy with the fence,” said Schatz, a five-time champion from Fargo, N.D. “I knew I couldn’t run 40 laps without hitting it so I had to be smarter than that. … We kind of found the rubber first but we were in the right spot at the wrong time. Those guys found it, too, under yellow.”

While Bell and Pittman tried the high line early on, Schatz was working the bottom groove in an effort to close the gap in traffic.

“If they’re running around the top I don’t know how I’m going to pass them on the top so I have to move around on the racetrack,” Schatz said. “It seemed to be the preferred line to be up there all night so I was trying to make something else work. It was good at certain points of the night but it wasn’t good enough for the win.”

Saldana, Pittman and Gravel Have Unique Perspectives on Week Ahead in Midwest for World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series
Three races in four nights will test ‘The Greatest Show on Dirt’ in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – May 6, 2014 – The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series is looking ahead this week to three races in four days at very unique venues across Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana.

Three drivers have distinct experiences at the upcoming tracks. The series will be making its debut on Wednesday at Jacksonville (Ill.) Speedway, a quarter-mile banked dirt oval where current series points leader Joey Saldana did some racing in the ’90s; then on Friday for the third time in series history the Outlaws invade 1/3-mile Wilmot (Wis.) Raceway, where defending series champion Daryn Pittman has finished first and third and has led 55 of 75 laps there; and finally on Saturday for the 32nd time “The Greatest Show on Dirt” returns to quarter-mile Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., where last year David Gravel was the runner-up to the car he’s currently racing.

“Jacksonville is right outside of Springfield, where the Outlaws ran the mile years ago,” said Saldana, of Brownsburg, Ind., who last raced at Jacksonville in 1998. “I think the track was always in the background and never really got the exposure it deserved, so it’s pretty cool they’re finally getting an Outlaw race.”

Saldana owns a 1-point advantage over Paul McMahan in the championship standings through 21 races, a long way from the World Finals in November. Still, being on top is no doubt a confidence builder for the Motter Motorsports team that came together just before the start of the 2013 season.

“I’m not worried about points right now,” Saldana said. “For us, we need to win races. We need to go into Jacksonville and qualify well, go in there and race well. It’s definitely going to be a tight racetrack and the racing is going to be tight.”

At a venue like Jacksonville where the series is racing for the first time, or even Wilmot where the series is competing for only the third time, drivers who can adapt quickly will obviously find themselves up front. That’s what makes World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series racers who compete February to November throughout North America stand out.

“I think it’s just the amount that we race, how much variety of different tracks we see across the country gives us an advantage to pick up on something faster,” said Pittman, a native of Owasso, Okla., who led the championship wire-to-wire last year for his first series title in his Kasey Kahne Racing car. “We don’t have a choice, we have to pick it up quick because we’re limited on how much practice we get, how many times we’re on the track. You better pick it up fast or somebody else is going to beat you.”

Pittman, who also has a few laps at Jacksonville under his belt, is confident in his abilities at tracks where the series rarely competes.

“I’ve always felt like new tracks, or tracks where nobody has a lot of experience, I thought I excelled at pretty well,” said Pittman, who held off Donny Schatz and Jason Meyers to win the Outlaws’ last race at Wilmot in 2008. “I always love going to new places, I have a pretty good history of going to a track for the first time and picking it up fairly quickly and being in contention for the win. … I think on really flat, tricky places like Wilmot I have always had a pretty decent feel for what I need the car to do on those types of tracks.”

Many of the drivers have years of experience at Saturday’s venue, Tri-State Speedway. So perhaps it was a bit surprising one of the youngest racers in the sport, 21-year-old David Gravel, nearly pulled off a win last season at Tom Helfrich’s meticulous quarter-mile oval in southeastern Indiana. Gravel was filling in for Bill Rose in 2013 at Tri-State when he was runner-up to Tim Kaeding and the Roth Motorsports #83. Last week, Gravel hopped in that Roth Motorsports #83 car and on Saturday night at Eldora Speedway he picked up his second win of the season and fourth of his career.

“Last year at Haubstadt we ran real well, and obviously we were fast this past weekend,” said Gravel, of Watertown, Conn. “I’m definitely looking forward to Tri-State. It’s a really fun track. It should be a good weekend.”

All four of Gravel’s World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victories have come in different cars. He’s quick to adjust and confident with his new team after only one weekend of competition.

“Ever since the first flight of hot laps in that car I was pretty comfortable,” Gravel said. “There wasn’t too much of a learning curve. The crew guys really work well together and care about my opinion and what I’m comfortable with. The past year I’ve driven quite a few different cars, and I seemed to be fast in almost every one I drove. Just driving different cars, driving different tracks is definitely a positive. When you’re strapped in, you can’t really see what the car looks like on the outside so you just drive it the same.”

No doubt the action will be intense on three consecutive short tracks in four days before the series sets sail next week for its first trip of the year to Pennsylvania. For Saldana, Pittman and Gravel, the anticipation is certainly building for tracks where history might just be on their side.

Darrell Lanigan Powers to Second Straight World of Outlaws Late Model Series Win at Lavonia
Third victory of 2014 for Union, Ky., driver who pads championship points lead
By Chris Tilley

LAVONIA, Ga. – May 3, 2014 – Darrell Lanigan made a power move on Tim McCreadie with 10 laps to go Saturday night at Lavonia Speedway to earn his second consecutive World of Outlaws Late Model Series win.

This was Lanigan’s third victory of the season as well as his 56th-career series victory while driving the Keyser Manufacturing, Baird Transport, Performance Rod & Custom, GottaRace, Lanigan Racing, Cornett Racing Engines powered Club 29 Race Car to the $10,000 payday.

“The car has been awesome this weekend, it’s been awesome since we brought it out, can’t thank my crew enough, we definitely got good piece here, can’t wait for the rest of the year,” stated an excited Lanigan, who now becomes the only driver this season to capture multiple victories on the tour.

Brent Dixon and McCreadie would bring the field of 20 to life for the start of the main event. A false start for Dixon, who fired before the starting point, moved him back to the second row and new polesitter Clint Smith brought himself and McCreadie to the green on the next try. Smith hugged the middle and held down the top spot to lead the opening circuit. McCreadie eventually took the spot from Smith on the third lap with Smith, Lanigan, Dixon and Rick Eckert in tow.

By the eighth lap, Tim Elrod was the first lapped car McCreadie would encounter. Meanwhile, Lanigan worked his way up behind Smith for second and finally grabbed the spot on the 21st lap.

Following another caution on lap 28, McCreadie brought the field down for the restart, then just 10 circuits later Lanigan was on his back bumper to challenge for the lead. Coming off the second turn, Lanigan powered to the inside and grabbed the spot away from McCreadie and held him off for the remaining 10 circuits.

Lanigan crossed the line ahead of McCreadie, Eckert, and Clint Smith, who grabbed his second-straight top ten. Local favorite Brent Dixon finished fifth.

Completing the top 10 were Rookie-of-the-Year contender Rick “Boom” Briggs, Morgan Bagley, Shane Clanton, Chase Junghans and Kyle Bronson.

McCreadie, who was runner-up, led the majority of the race, says he blames himself for losing the lead to Lanigan behind lapped traffic.

“I tried to move him, which was probably the wrong move, and it cost me the race, dumb mistake on my part, we made big gains in a month, that’s all I can say, give us another month, we’ll be even better,” said McCreadie, of Watertown, N.Y.

Lanigan liked the track, which brought the WoO LMS to town for the very first time.

“You could definitely maneuver all over this place,” said Lanigan about the racy track surface.

Rick Eckert of York, Pa., turned the fastest overall lap of Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, circling the oval at 15.940 second. Heat race winners were Brent Dixon and Tim McCreadie.

Eckert, who was third, made a run at the end of the 50-lapper and the Rocket Chassis House Car came to life.

“I made a mistake in the heat race, probably cost me the feature, but the car was really good in the (feature) race there. The race track was excellent, you could go wherever you wanted to,” said Eckert, who claimed his second-straight podium finish.

Twenty cars entered the event, which brought the WoO LMS to Lavonia, Ga., for the first time ever.

The WoO LMS will be back in action for a triple-header of action May 16-18 as the WoO LMS gang will make its first-ever visit to 201 Speedway in Sitka, Ky on Friday May 16th, then Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn. on Saturday May 17th then back to Bob Harris’ Duck River Speedway in Wheel, Tenn. on Sunday Night May 18th. All three events pay $10,000-to-win.

Shane Stewart Dominates World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars at Eldora Speedway
Former series rookie of the year gives Kyle Larson his first victory as car owner
ROSSBURG, Ohio – May 2, 2014 – Well, that didn’t take long. In its much-anticipated World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series debut on Friday night at Eldora Speedway, Shane Stewart dominated in the Larson-Marks ride to give Kyle Larson his first win as a car owner.

The team was strong all night from a top-10 qualifying effort to a heat race victory and ultimately leading all 30 laps of the A-main.

Current World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship leader Joey Saldana finished second with Paul McMahan, quick-timer Kerry Madsen and Dale Blaney rounding out the top five.

Kraig Kinser led the field to green, but Stewart used his outside front-row position in his GoPro-sponsored car to line himself up for a charge at the lead on the high side in turns 1 and 2. Stewart then raced to the bottom of the historic high-banked, half-mile oval and swept past Kinser and into the lead.

With Stewart and Kinser out front, a couple of Kings Royal winners, Saldana and Blaney, battled each other for third. Saldana wheeled the Motter Equipment #71M around the top while Blaney worked the bottom. The two entered traffic just after lap five and while navigating lapped traffic Blaney earned the position on lap eight, but he wasn’t done there. The following lap Blaney passed Kinser for second place.

As Stewart worked in and out of traffic, Blaney would pull close yet fall back. Blaney was closing the gap on lap 17 when a caution for new full-time Outlaw David Gravel after he broke a bolt in the throttle.

On the restart Stewart, who was series’ top rookie in 2005, chose the outside line with Blaney to his inside. Stewart and Saldana, who started third, road the rim of the track with Stewart shooting back to the lead. The rest of the race ran caution free and Stewart cruised to the checkered flag.

“This is such a surreal … sorry,” started an emotional Stewart of Bixby, Okla., in victory lane. “It’s been quite a rollercoaster for me the last couple of years, and it was a tough decision to come here, I had a couple of good offers on the table and thank god I picked this one, huh? I know we’re going to have our bumps and bruises, but to come here and win with the field of cars that are here … my car was on a rail.”

In turn three Saldana used a strong run around the top to take second position by driving around Blaney.

“I thought I did [have something for him], until we got into traffic and then he was ‘see you later,'” said Saldana, of Brownsburg, Ind. “That’s a great car that finished ahead of us, a great team, that’s a great driver and I wouldn’t expect anything else out of Shane Stewart but a win on that. I loved watching my dad race here and all the old time guys so when I come here it’s kind of like going back in time for me and I can kind of revisit the days when those guys were running around out here.”

On lap 22 McMahan used a slide job to take the third position behind the wheel of the CJB Motorsports #51.

“We had a good race car,” said McMahan, of Nashville, Tenn. “It’s great for Shane [Stewart], I’ve been in his shoes where people doubted you and didn’t believe in you. Kyle believes in Shane and Shane is a great racecar driver. We gave it all we had, I was going to try to slide it in on Joe I thought he might go to the top and he was trying to lap cars and went to the middle and it got real tight there off of four and I spun the tires real bad on exit and he got away from me. It’s a solid third place finish tonight.

Saldana remains the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship leader by 19 points over Paul McMahan. Donny Schatz sits in third place trailing by 34 points and 2013 champion, Daryn Pittman is in fourth, one point behind Schatz.

Lanigan Surges to World of Outlaws Late Model Win at Fayetteville
Two-time champ becomes first two-time winner on tour this season
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – May 2, 2014 – G.R. Smith did all he could do to hang onto the lead on Friday night at Fayetteville Motor Speedway, but Darrell Lanigan was too strong down the stretch and swept past Smith to become the first driver with two World of Outlaws Late Model Series wins this season.

Smith and Rick Eckert battled for much of the 50-lap A-main before Lanigan and Jonathan Davenport came on strong in the second half of the feature. A restart with 15 laps to go shook up the contenders when they all tried to go for the same piece of real estate in turn one. By the time it settled, Lanigan jumped from fourth to second and set his sights on Smith.

Then with nine to go, Smith started sliding up the 4/10-mile red clay oval, giving Lanigan a chance to drive under him and into the top spot. A caution with eight to go gave Lanigan the clear track he needed to drive off to a 2.292-second, $10,000 victory over Davenport, who was able to sneak past third-place finishing Smith on the last lap.

Chub Frank and Eckert rounded out the top five.

“The third caution we just got in there and got in the rut in turn one and got into the side of Rambo [Franklin] and couldn’t turn,” said Lanigan, of Union, Ky. “We fell back three or four spots, but got a good restart the next time and I found a little groove in there and the car was good.”

Lanigan became the series’ first two-time winner this season through nine A-mains. His victory Friday in his Club 29 machine is a little redemption for a runner-up performance in last week’s Illini 100.

“I feel like I let the one last week get by me so definitely to win this one makes us feel good,” he said. “It’s hard to believe, we’ve had a good car all year, we’ve been there, just needed a little bit.”

Davenport was in the hunt for a win all night long, but ultimately he wasn’t able to find a way around Lanigan down the stretch.

“I kept getting stuck on the outside and I kept trying to make it work,” said Davenport, of Blairsville, Ga. “We probably had a third-place car there but we stuck with it and didn’t give up.”

Smith, whose team made the three-hour journey from the Charlotte suburbs with his car on the back of an open trailer, was strong all night. He picked up a $200 track bonus for setting quick time, then won his heat, got the outside pole in the redraw and raced hard to hold off Eckert, who was driving the #1 Rocket Chassis car. Ultimately, Smith settled for third, but was pleased with his volunteer crew’s effort.

“We had a real good car, setting fast time and winning the heat race,” said Smith, of Cornelius, N.C. “We just lost it trying too hard. We didn’t know what kind of lead we had and got the right rear tire hot and if you give up a little bit to these guys they’re good enough to pounce on you.

“We define weekend warrior. I never really looked behind me, or looked on the board. I didn’t really care because I knew whether it was Rick Eckert or Darrell Lanigan or Jonathan Davenport, these guys are national champions. I made my mind up in the pit area before we went out there that we were going to go out swinging. We came up about eight laps short. At least we know we’re knocking on the door.”

Interestingly enough, the heat winners were also the top three finishers in the A-main – G.R. Smith, Darrell Lanigan and Jonathan Davenport.

 
World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars Return to Historic Eldora
Ohio half-mile steeped in tradition a huge draw for generations of racers
ROSSBURG, Ohio – April 30, 2014 – A return to Eldora Speedway has special meaning for many of the competitors on the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series tour. This Friday and Saturday, the series races back to Eldora for the 37th consecutive season.

Some of today’s racers were part of that first night. Bobby Allen claimed the World of Outlaws event at Eldora on April 16, 1978. He’ll have two cars in the field this weekend with son, Jacob Allen, and grandson, Logan Schuchart, as drivers. Steve Kinser was a two-time winner that inaugural season. He’s back for one more run at a 21st championship – and a few more Eldora wins – on his Salute to the King tour.

Sammy Swindell, the series’ most recent winner last Saturday in Pevely, Mo., earned his first Outlaw victory at Eldora in 1979 and his most recent win at the historic high-banked half-mile oval in the 2012 Kings Royal.

The drivers who are forging their own milestones right now, racers like Donny Schatz, Daryn Pittman, Joey Saldana, Paul McMahan, Brad Sweet and Kerry Madsen, also appreciate Eldora for all its history and intrigue. Each has stories of near-misses, heartbreak and ultimately success. With two victories last year at Eldora, Australia-native Madsen finally conquered Eldora after a couple of close calls in previous years.

“Eldora is pretty much what got me hooked on racing in the USA,” Madsen said. “When you come from the small tracks in Australia and see Eldora for the first time, it’s definitely an eye-opener. I’ve always enjoyed racing there. It has a lot of atmosphere about it. The cushion’s on the wall, it lends itself to a pretty exciting style of racing. It’s always been one of my favorite stops.”

Eldora is a track wound tightly in Outlaw lore. This weekend, two more chapters will be written.

WHEN

· Friday and Saturday, May 2-3, at Eldora Speedway. Racing begins at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE

· Eldora Speedway is located 2 1/2 miles north of Rossburg on SR 118. Click on the link for a map ( goo.gl/maps/kNeQS). style=”font-size:12px”>

Babb Earns First Illini 100 Victory In Front of Hometown Crowd
Land of Lincoln driver pockets $20,000, becomes eighth different World of Outlaws Late Model Series winner this season
By Chris Tilley

FARMER CITY, Ill. – April 26, 2014 – Shannon Babb became the first Illinois driver to capture the Illini 100 on Saturday night at Farmer City Raceway.

The Moweaqua, Ill., driver started seventh, took the lead on lap 46 from Bobby Pierce and never looked back en route to a $20,000 payday in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series-sanctioned Sixth Annual Illini 100 at Farmer City Raceway. Babb became the eighth different winner in eight races on this year’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series tour across America.

“Man I’m pumped, 20 grand right here at Farmer City, shoot!” exclaimed a very excited Babb in Victory Lane in front of a packed hometown crowd. “This race means a lot, there’s no better crowd in the Midwest than right here, every year they keep supporting it, we’ve got a lot of good race fans and race teams around here, it’s great. Love to win it right here at home.”

Polesitter Morgan Bagley and Rick Eckert brought the field of 24 to life for the Illini 100 with Eckert taking the point and leading the opening circuit with Pierce, Tim McCreadie and Bagley in tow. On the third lap Pierce took the lead from Eckert coming off the fourth turn and tried to hold off the field.

By the eighth lap, points leader and two-time champion Darrell Lanigan made his presence known as he rallied from his eighth starting spot to challenge for third and eventually take the position from McCreadie. By the next lap, Lanigan rolled his Club 29 Race Car to the second.

Pierce continued leading, but Lanigan kept the pressure on, closing the gap on Pierce by the 16th lap. Lanigan put his nose to the outside of Pierce on several occasions but Pierce’s momentum on the bottom of the quarter-mile bullring keep him out front.

Lapped traffic came into play by the 21st circuit as both Pierce and Lanigan had their hands full behind several lapped cars. For the next eight laps the duo worked through lapped cars with Pierce still holding his momentum.

Pierce continued to lead until the 45th lap when the caution flew for debris. On the restart, Babb knocked off second place and by the 46th lap he moved up the track and took the lead from Pierce.

“When those guys went to the bottom, my mouth was watering, I just got up there and got ‘er done,” Babb said.

As the race went on after the lap-50 yellow flag, Babb could flex his muscle with the lead on the field, but after a final yellow on lap-88, the field bunched up again for the final time but Babb still held off a determined Lanigan for his first WoO LMS victory of the season.

Only four caution flags slowed the event which took just over 36 minutes to run. The first yellow flag came on the sixth lap as Steve Sheppard Jr. and Jeep VanWormer both spun in turn one. The next yellow would be on lap 45 for debris in turn four. The third yellow would come out on the 50th lap as Chase Junghans slowed in turn three with a flat tire. The fourth and final yellow would wave on the 88th lap as Clint Smith brought his car to rest in turn four with a right-rear flat tire. Both Junghans and Smith entered the work area and bolted on new rubber for the rest of the main event.

Babb drove his Petroff Towing, Donley Trucking and Krekes Powerhouse sponsored Rocket Chassis to the payday. Completing the top-five were eighth-starting Lanigan of Union, Ky., fourth-starting Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., sixth-starting McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and Eckert, of York, Pa., who drove to his first top-five filling in for three-time series champ Josh Richards in the #1 Rocket Chassis car.

Lanigan just couldn’t get over the hump he needed to get the win.

“We did have a good car all night, that’s my fault, I should have took the outside on the first restart and picked the inside,” stated Lanigan after his podium finish.

Lanigan turned the fastest overall lap of Ohlins Shocks Time Trials on Friday night, circling the blistering-fast oval in 13.369 seconds during Group ‘A’ of the split qualifying session.

Heat winners on Friday were Lanigan, Shannon Babb, Kevin Weaver and Bobby Pierce. Ryan Unzicker and Darren Friedman captured the Last Chance Showdowns on Saturday.

High-banked quarter-mile oval set for prestigious $20,000-to-win event April 25-26
By Chris Tilley

FARMER CITY, Ill. – April 22, 2014 – The Sixth Annual Illini 100 this Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, features the World of Outlaws Late Model Series invading Farmer City Raceway for a $20,000-to-win payday.

Darrell Lanigan, of Union, Ky., leads the Outlaws into familiar territory with a 36-point margin over Brandon Sheppard, of New Berlin, Ill. Rick Eckert of York, Pa, who recently took over the Rocket Chassis house car ride for Sheppard, is third in the championship with 2009 Illini 100 winner Shane Clanton, of Zebulon, Ga., sitting in fourth. The 2006 champion, Tim McCreadie, of Watertown, N.Y., is fifth in points and aiming to break into the win column this weekend.

Other series regulars who will be looking to tame the high banks Farmer City include Morgan Bagley of Tyler, Tex., Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., Frank Heckenast Jr. of Orland Park, Ill., Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Ks., Jack Sullivan of Greenbriar, Ark., and Rick ‘Boom” Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa. Regional standout and teenage sensation Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill, is off to a hot start to the season, picking up wins recently at Eldora Speedway and 34 Raceway.

Through seven events on the tour this season, there have been seven different winners. Among those drivers have been three new series winners including Casey Roberts and Kyle Bronson, who both claimed victories at Volusia Speedway Park, and Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., who claimed his first World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory April 12 at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway.

Other regional stars expected to be in attendance for the Illini 100 will Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill., Daren Friedman of Forrest, Ill., Bob Gardner of Germantown, Ill., Joe Harlan of El Paso, Ill., Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa., Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill, Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis.

Former Illini winners at Farmer City include three-time winner Billy Moyer (2008, 2010 and 2013); Clanton (2009) and Mars (2012).

On Friday, April 25, the WoO LMS gang will open the weekend with practice, Ohlins Shocks Time Trials and Heat Races. On Saturday night, April 26, the event concludes with the Last Chance Showdowns and the 100-lap $20,000-to-win event. An open practice session will be held on Thursday night, April 24.

The weekend’s tire rule will feature the DIRTcar UMP Hoosier compounds of LM20, LM30 & LM40. Friday’s program will also feature UMP Modifieds, Street Stocks, Pro Late Models and Hornets. Saturday’s classes include $1,000-to-win for the UMP Modifieds, $1,000-to-win for the Pro Late Models and the Street Stocks will pay $400-to-win.

Marlar Captures World of Outlaws Late Model Series Victory at Tazewell Speedway
Tennessee driver tops Clanton, Eckert for his first series win in 50-lap feature
By Chris Tilley

TAZEWELL, Tenn. – April 12, 2014 – Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., took advantage of Tim McCreadie’s misfortune and went on to capture Saturday night’s Scion of Knoxville 50 World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main at Tazewell Speedway.

This was Marlar’s first-career World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory, and he became the series’ seventh different winner this season in seven races after holding off Shane Clanton and Rick Eckert to the checkered flag as championship leader Darrell Lanigan finished fourth with last year’s top rookie Eric Wells rounding out the top five.

“We actually scaled back on racing this year and I think we’re going to have one of our best year’s yet,” said an excited Marlar in victory lane.

“My steering is bent, my arms are tired, but with all the help from my family and friends, Ronnie Delk (car owner), all of the work they put in, we’re going stay in there and drive it all we can,” stated Marlar after talking about his near mishap with lapped car Mark Gant.

McCreadie and Marlar brought the field of 24 to life for the start of the 50-lapper with McCreadie jumping to the high side and the early lead. Marlar tucked under T-Mac for second with Lanigan moving from his eighth spot to the fifth position by the second circuit. By the sixth lap, sixth-starting Clanton and his Capital Race Cars entry passed Eckert for the third spot.

“We’re good, just need a little lady luck to start up front and maybe we can win one,” said runner-up Clanton of Zebulon, Ga.

Eckert of York, Pa., held on to a third place-finish and said tire choice was the key.

“He was a little bit softer on the left rear tire, that one restart he took the bottom off two and snuck by me and I just couldn’t get him back cleared,” said Eckert.

Brandon Overton of Appleton, Ga., finished sixth while Rookie-of-the-Year contender Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Kan., finished seventh. Morgan Bagley of Tyler, Texas, Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., and Rick “Boom” Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., rounded out the top 10.

Eight caution flags slowed the main event. The first yellow flag would wave on lap three as Boom Briggs got crossed up in turn four collecting three more. Lap nine would see leader McCreadie slowing for a right rear flat tire. Bryan Hendrix spun at the top of turn two in front of the top-four cars and brought out the yellow on lap 17. Debris brought out the next yellow on lap 26. The next yellow flag would wave on lap-29 as the rescue squad had to come out of the infield and attend to a spectator. Jack Sullivan would slow in turn three for a flat tire on lap 31 to bring out the next yellow flag. The lap-39 caution flag would be for Chub Frank’s right-rear flat. Jeff Wolfenbarger would slow for the final yellow with two laps to go with a flat tire.

Twenty-four cars entered the event, which brought the WoO LMS to Gary Hall’s track outside Tazewell for the lone season visit.

Eckert turned the fastest overall lap of Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, circling the blistering-fast 1/3 mile oval in 11.390 seconds. Heat winners were Eckert, Wells and McCreadie.

Darrell Lanigan continues to lead the overall World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship with six top-five’s and seven top-10s through seven feature events.

American Racing Custom Wheels to Sponsor World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Texas Outlaw Nationals on April 18-19 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway
CONCORD, N.C. – April 11, 2014 – The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series has its roots in Devil’s Bowl Speedway, site of its inaugural event in 1978. Today, American Racing Custom Wheels announced it will play a major role in the Outlaws’ return to the unique half-mile dirt oval on April 18-19 in Mesquite, Texas, as a sponsor of the Texas Outlaws Nationals presented by American Racing Custom Wheels.

American Racing is an iconic brand and a wheel industry leader in craftsmanship, engineering, innovation and performance. Founded in 1956 as a manufacturer of bespoke magnesium and aluminum racing wheels, its roots date back to the golden era of hot rodding. American Racing is a Wheel Pros brand. Wheel Pros products are sold worldwide in more than 20 countries on four continents and through a U.S. network of more than 25,000 authorized dealers. It is one of the world’s largest suppliers of branded custom wheels, performance tires and related accessories for cars, SUVs and light trucks.