World of Outlaws Late Models Invading Volunteer State This Weekend
Championship leader Darrell Lanigan carries momentum heading Friday into Duck River Raceway Park and Saturday into Tazewell Speedway
By Chris Tilley, CT Marketing & Motorsports Services

WHEEL, Tenn. – April 8, 2014 – The World of Outlaws Late Model Series invades the Volunteer State of Tennessee on Friday at Duck River Raceway Park and Saturday at Tazewell Speedway.

Through the first six events of the season, no driver has repeated but two-time champion Darrell Lanigan, of Union, Ky., is atop the championship standings thanks in part to a victory at Bubba Raceway Park plus five top-five finishes. He has a 22-point advantage over Brandon Sheppard, of New Berlin, Ill., who is piloting Josh Richards’ three-time champion Rocket car. Chasing Lanigan and Sheppard are Rick Eckert, of York, Pa.; Shane Clanton, of Zebulon, Ga.; and Tim McCreadie, of Watertown, N.Y.

Other series invaders that will take to the track this weekend include rookie-of-the-year contender Chase Junghans, of Manhattan, Kan., as well as Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs, of Bear Lake, Pa., who travels with fellow Pennsylvanian Chub Frank.

On Friday, April 11, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series travelers will visit the Bob Harris-owned Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tenn., for a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win event. The 2-Barrel/Crate Late Models, Pure Pony, Pure Stock, Modified Street and Outlaw Pony Classes will all be on the racing card. During last season’s visit to Duck River, Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., captured a $10,000 payday in a thrilling race over Lanigan and McCreadie. Gates open at noon and racing will begin at 7:00 p.m. with all times Central for Friday at Duck River. Adult General Admission is $25.00 while Pit Passes are $40.00.

Tanner English, of Benton, Ky., is the most recent winner at Duck River Raceway Park, picking up the victory on April 5. English, the son of Western Kentucky racer Terry English, along with defending Deep Fried 75 Champ Josh Putnam, of Florence, Ala.; Daniel Miller, of Shelbyville, Tenn.; Brad Skinner, of Springhill, Tenn.; David Seibers, of Petersburg, Tenn.; Jason Hiett, of Oxford, Ala.; Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind.; Billy Ogle Jr., of Knoxville, Tenn.; Riley Hickman of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Skylar Marlar, of Winfield, Tenn.; Ronnie Lee Hollingsworth, of Northport, Ala.; Eric Hickerson, of Linden, Tenn.; Caleb Ashby, of Cunningham, Tenn., and 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.

Lanigan owned the track record of 11.97 set in 2013 during the visit by the Outlaws, but David Seibers, of Petersburg, Tenn., broke that mark this past Saturday night and turned a blistering 11.96 second lap. English claimed the event win at Duck River over Eric Hickerson, Daniel Miller, Mark Fields and Seibers.

On Saturday night, April 12, the Outlaws will face off with the East Tennessee hot shoes at Gary Hall’s Tazewell Speedway for another 50-lap, $10,000-to-win event presented by Scion of Knoxville. The Sportsman, Modified Street, Classic Cars and Four Cylinders will also be on tap for the evening’s activities. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and racing will begin at 7:30 p.m. with all times Eastern on the Tazewell event. Admission prices and other information can be found on the Tazewell Speedway website. Tazewell Motor Lodge is the official host hotel for the track. Call (423) 626-7229 for more information.

Sweet Earns Third World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Victory of 2014
Grass Valley, Calif., native takes the checkered in front of family and friends on night one of Calistoga double-header
 
CALISTOGA, Calif. – April 5, 2014 – It was friends and family night for California native Brad Sweet on Saturday at Calistoga Speedway after he held off Brian Brown in a thriller for his third World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory of the season.

Sweet and Brown flipped the lead several times in traffic before Sweet, of Grass Valley, Calif., pulled ahead for the victory in the waning laps, kicking off a victory celebration that included several of his friends and family members from his native Golden State.

Brown, who lost the lead while working through lapped traffic, held on for the runner-up finish. Joey Saldana started and finished in third while Donny Schatz was fourth and another hometown hero, Rico Abreu, rounded out the top-five on the first of two nights of World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series action at Calistoga.

Brown jumped out to a quick lead over pole-sitter Schatz. Brown continued to lead on lap six when the caution flew for David Gravel, winner of the previous event at Merced Speedway last Friday night. On the restart, a red flag would fly for contact with Bud Kaeding and Austin Wheatley. The ensuing restart was single-file as Brown continued to lead. On lap 11 the leaders hit lapped traffic at the half-mile oval. A bobble in traffic on lap 12 cost Brown the lead as Sweet, behind the wheel of the Kasey Kahne Racing SurePointMedical.com #49 drove by him in turn four.

Brown regained his composure and continued to track Sweet with virtually no distance between the two around the half-mile oval. Brown’s persistence paid off on lap 14 when Sweet had to check up for a lapped car on the backstretch allowing Brown to blow by him on the inside.

Sweet continued to push for the lead and made the pass for the win on lap 16. Brown had a final chance to battle for victory after a caution on lap 21 for Paul McMahan with a flat right rear tire. On the restart Brown began to get a run on Sweet when the red flag was thrown for DJ Netto and Lucas Wolfe making contact. Brown slung the FVP/Casey’s General Store #21 to the top of the track to try to pass while Sweet drove to the bottom and was able to maintain his advantage.

Sweet held on for the remaining few circuits to collect the victory in the 25-lap A-main.

“Holy cow that was tough!” Sweet said. “The track guys worked their butts off and gave us a good race track. I was lucky enough to get that caution (lap 21) because I was really hanging on for a minute. We were able to get through the dash and gain a row, then got really good starts in the A. Thank you to all my friends and family that are here, I’m glad you got to see me win and thanks to all the fans for coming out.”

Brown continues to close in on his first victory with the series, missing by one position on Saturday night.

“It was kind of tough you know when you got to traffic,” said Brown, of Grain Valley, Mo. “I think we had the fastest car out in clean air, but when you get to traffic and just slow down and hit the holes wrong, you’re just along for the ride. After the month we’ve had a second feels like a win. We’re disappointed, but we’re definitely not ungrateful.”

Saldana began the night by shattering Mark Kinser’s 1997 track record with a lap of 15.731 seconds then finishing third in the Motter Equipment HE&M Saw #71M.

“I race these things, but I’m also a fan, and that was an awesome race,” said Saldana, of Brownburg, Ind. “I just wish I was in it. Lapped traffic I knew would be a key and just whoever hit it at the right time, and that yellow flew just right for Brad. If I was going to have a chance I didn’t need that yellow. It was a good race and a solid night for us, I’ll take it. I’m very happy with that and come back tomorrow and hopefully do a little better.”

McMahan after changing a tire and bringing out a caution late in the race settled for an 18th-place finish that led to five-time champion Schatz recapturing the point lead by solid 23 points over McMahan. The 2013 World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series champion, Daryn Pittman, sits just one point back of McMahan with Brad Sweet in the fourth position, 45 points outside of the lead.

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series returns to Calistoga Sunday night to complete the weekend. Action will be moved up one hour with racing starting at 6 p.m.

CALISTOGA SPEEDWAY TRACK NOTES – Joey Saldana was the fastest qualifier around the semi-banked, half-mile of Calistoga Speedway with a time of 15.731 seconds to set a new track record and earn five championship points. Also earning points were Donny Schatz (4 points), Brian Brown (3), Kerry Madsen (2) and Kraig Kinser (1). Rico Abreu, Daryn Pittman, and Brad Sweet won heat races. … The dash draw was a 4 for the 5th time this year… Donny Schatz won the dash for the first time this year.

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series was born in 1978 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. It returns to Mesquite on April 18-19 for the Texas Outlaw Nationals featuring a reunion of ‘Original Outlaws’

MESQUITE, Texas – April 4, 2014 – None of them knew what was ahead back in March of 1978. Ted Johnson gathered a collection of racers from around the country at Lanny Edwards’ Devil’s Bowl Speedway for the track’s spring nationals. Johnson got them the buy in, literally, in some cases, to a vision he had. The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series was born that weekend in Texas. Now, 37 years later and more than a decade since it last competed at the unique half-mile oval, they’re coming home to the Texas Outlaw Nationals on April 18-19.

Two of today’s stars were there that weekend: Steve Kinser, who would eventually win 20 championships and become known as the King of the Outlaws, and Sammy Swindell, a standout on quarter-miles around western Tennessee who had never raced on a track as big as Devil’s Bowl but would go on to win three championships and rank behind only Kinser in all-time wins.

Kinser, a winner of 577 full-points features in his Outlaw career, finished last that day. He never envisioned 20 titles, 12 Knoxville Nationals wins, starts in the Indianapolis 500 or the Daytona 500. The son of Bob Kinser, a legendary sprint car racer in his own right, Steve was just hoping for a chance to race on the weekends around his native Bloomington, Ind. Now he’s celebrating his “Salute to the King” season with one last run at winning a 21st crown.

Johnson banded together Kinser and a handful of other sprint car racers and started barnstorming the country. The popularity of the Outlaws grew quickly, but its roots were firmly entrenched in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite, in Johnson’s adopted home state of Texas. Fans from all around the plains would make the trek to Devil’s Bowl, including a kid from suburban Tulsa, Okla., named Daryn Pittman, who would grow up to not only race against the stars he watched but eventually become their champion.

That March weekend was a beginning, but to what nobody really knew. Johnson collected some money for a point fund, put a schedule together and the rest is history.

“The first weekend we ran Devil’s Bowl I ran a red #86 car owned by Jerry Smith out of Missouri, and then after we left there I started running Karl’s car,” said Kinser, who was an Indiana state wrestling champion and the son of one of the sport’s greatest racers of all-time. “I just remember the first weekend Ted Johnson came up and said we needed $40 or $50 to start a point fund … nobody really knew what we were getting into but it just took off from there. All I was trying to do then was hope that I could race on the weekends somewhere. I knew when I left there I had a pretty good shot at getting into Karl’s car. I knew that was a good fast race car and I would have an opportunity to do some good.”

He did a lot of good driving for Karl Kinser. He’s known in racing circles the world over. He’s inspired nearly every sprint car driver behind the wheel of a car today.

A couple of years later, Swindell was able to find owners who could field a car for him full-time on the circuit, and just like that he won two championships and sparked one of racing’s greatest rivalries: Kinser vs. Swindell.

“Devil’s Bowl was one of the first places that we went that was quite a ways from home,” said Swindell, of Germantown, Tenn. “It was a big track for me, it was a lot larger than all the quarter-miles at home. It gave me a chance to learn to race a little different. It’s kind of a place where I sort of grew up a little bit. We ran there quite a bit. It will be nice to go back. The owners, Lanny Edwards and his family, have always been really nice and been really good to us and really supported sprint car racing.”

For kids like Pittman, who was born the year Johnson started the series, and five-time Outlaw champion Donny Schatz, who was born one year earlier and cheered for Doug Wolfgang while growing up in North Dakota, the Outlaws stirred a passion.

“It was what you looked forward to every year as a kid,” said Pittman, a native of Owasso, Okla. “We used to always try to make one trip if not two trips down to Devil’s Bowl every year for the spring and the winter nationals. I went there a lot as a fan when I was a kid to watch. Obviously as a kid it helped spark your interest in what you wanted to become, what you wanted to do by watching those guys race four or five times a year.”

Schatz is coming off a season in which he won 23 times, including his seventh FVP Knoxville Nationals title. With a couple of wins already this season, he’s only four victories behind Mark Kinser for third all-time, and he’s well-aware of his place in the history of the sport and those who came before him.

“When I was five years old I dreamed of doing this, now I’m 36 and I get to I live my dream every day,” said Schatz, who earned the 149th feature win of his career last month at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway dirt track. “To see those guys who still have a love for the sport and they come and see the fans and be a part of the festivities and all the things that go on at the racetracks, it’s definitely very humbling. I’m sure there will come a day when I get to that point when I get that opportunity too, at this time I just enjoy being a race driver and being part of the show.”

While Kinser and Swindell will be behind the wheel when the Outlaws return to Devil’s Bowl later this month, many of their former competitors will also be in attendance, celebrating the origin of the series that launched so many careers that have earned a place in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa.

Doug Wolfgang will be there. Rick Ferkel will be there. Norman Martin, who won the first of two prelim nights, will be there. Bobby Marshall and Steve Perry will be there. Car owner CK Spurlock will be there as will his driver in that race, Charlie Swartz. Shane Carson, the racer turned promoter turned race director who is working to reunite all of these great drivers at Devil’s Bowl, will be there. Even Jimmy Boyd’s feature-winning car will journey from the Woodland Auto Display museum in California to Devil’s Bowl for the event. Carson has nearly everybody involved in that first event in 1978 returning for this weekend, with the “Original Outlaws” signing autographs on Saturday afternoon.

Ultimately, there’s just something about the unique half-mile that brings a smile and a distant look of fondness to the drivers’ faces, as if they’re answering questions but thinking ahead to the challenge of racing at the same time.

“It’s a little different track,” said Kinser, a 10-time winner Devil’s Bowl. “It’s got the frontstretch a little lower and the backstretch a little higher. You sort of run uphill going into 1 and 2, then you sail off into 3 and downhill into a lower straightaway. It’s a little different racetrack and always a fun track to run on.”

Swindell’s 12 feature victories are the most of any World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series driver at Devil’s Bowl.

“It’s always challenging track because both ends are different and you’re going uphill and downhill, you don’t get that a lot of places,” Swindell said. “The experience comes into play there so that helps. I look forward to the challenge.”

Schatz started running on the Outlaw tour in earnest in 1997, when he was named rookie of the year. None of his 149 victories came at Devil’s Bowl but he’s certainly looking forward to changing that in a couple of weeks.

“I remember when I first went there,” Schatz said. “It’s definitely a unique surface, it’s tricky to be able to race there. You look forward to that. It’s where you can be better than someone else because it’s not an easy place to get around. I look forward to trying to have a great run.”

The history that will surround the two-day Texas Outlaw Nationals will be unparalleled. On Friday night, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car
Series and Devil’s Bowl will honor Kinser as part of the “Salute to the King” tour. Then on Saturday, the original Outlaws will participate in a one-of-kind autograph session with some of the greatest drivers to have ever wheeled a sprint car.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Moves ‘Illini 100’ to April 25-26
Sub-freezing temperatures, saturated facility and another drenching storm projected to continue into Thursday and Friday prompted event shift
FARMER CITY, Ill. – April 2, 2014 – The World of Outlaws Late Model Series’ Illini 100, scheduled for this weekend at Farmer City Raceway, is being postponed three weeks to Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, to avoid sub-freezing temperatures, a saturated facility and a drenching storm projected to continue into Thursday and Friday.

“This was a tough decision, but after considering the fans, competitors and the facility itself we decided it was in the best interest of all the parties to move the event so everybody could have a better experience,” World of Outlaws Late Model Series director Tim Christman said.

Tickets purchased in advance will still be good for the delayed event. The schedule of events April 25-26 will mirror the current event schedule, with qualifying and heat races on Friday night and mains on Saturday, including the $20,000-to-win feature.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series will next be in action Friday, April 11, at Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tenn., and Saturday, April 12, at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway.

Bright Lights of Las Vegas to Shine on FVP Outlaw Showdown
World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars invade entertainment capital March 5-6
CONCORD, N.C. – Jan. 24, 2014 – The bright lights of Las Vegas will shine on the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series when it invades one of the biggest entertainment cities on the planet for the two-night FVP Outlaw Showdown March 5-6 at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

FVP and the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars will get top billing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Wednesday and Thursday during the city’s biggest racing week of the year. Tony Stewart Racing’s Donny Schatz is a seven-time winner at Las Vegas but Daryn Pittman of Kasey Kahne Racing will be seeking a victory to help him defend his series championship.

FVP Outlaw Showdown March 5-6 at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
In addition, the FVP Outlaw Showdown will mark the final time the legendary Steve Kinser will be competing for a World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series crown during his “Salute to the King” season at the Las Vegas dirt track. Kinser is a 20-time champion who has earned four of his 576 career victories at the half-mile speedway just north of The Strip.

FVP, a leading provider of OE-quality aftermarket automotive parts, is title sponsor of the event and excited to join the fans for an incredible event.

“FVP has long been involved in sprint car racing and we’re pleased to partner with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars at a world-class facility like Las Vegas,” FVP’s Joel Quetschenbach said. “The FVP Outlaw Showdown is going to be a huge two days in the country’s most electric city.”

Also on the card with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series will be West Coast Late Models and IMCA Modifieds on Wednesday, and West Coast 360 non-wing sprint cars and IMCA Modifieds on Thursday.

Grandstands are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. with qualifying events at 6:15 p.m. and opening ceremonies at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be ordered online by clicking www.WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets or by calling 877-395-8606.

Eastern Motorsport Press Association Names World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Champion Daryn Pittman the Al Holbert National Driver of the Year

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. – Jan. 4, 2014 – Daryn Pittman continues to garner praise for his remarkable 2013 championship-winning World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series performance. On Saturday night at the Crowne Plaza Valley Forge, Pittman was honored by the Eastern Motorsport Press Association as the Al Holbert National Driver of the Year.

Pittman drove the Kasey Kahne Racing Great Clips-sponsored car to his first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series crown, leading wire-to-wire and holding off Donny Schatz in the closest championship finish in series history. It was also the first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series title for Kasey Kahne Racing.

Pittman joins a list of previous winners dating back to 1973 that includes drivers like Jimmie Johnson, Mario Andretti, Tony Stewart, Dario Franchitti, Jeff Gordon, John Force and last year’s winner Brad Keselowski.

“It truly is an honor to be associated with so many of the drivers who have won this award before me,” said Pittman, a native of Owasso, Okla. “I was just very thankful to be back on the road with the World of Outlaws and for us to be as strong from the beginning all the way to the end was truly just an amazing season with a great team behind me at Kasey Kahne Racing.”

Pittman is only the second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series driver to earn the award, joining 2007 winner Donny Schatz.

“Besides the fact that he joins Mario Andretti and a host of other superstars from the past, Daryn Pittman had a terrific year,” said EMPA President Ron Hedger. “The guys he beat in the voting were John Force and Scott Dixon, two of the greatest racers in their divisions. Pittman had a year that certainly deserved this award.”

Pittman will begin his quest for a second consecutive championship next month when the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series kicks off the season during the Feb. 11-22 DIRTcar Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.

Donny Schatz Powers to 22nd Victory at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park
Five-time champ closes gap in quest for another World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car title
ELBRIDGE, N.Y. – Oct. 12, 2013 – Donny Schatz’s remarkable World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series season continued on Saturday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park as he powered to his 22nd victory of the year.

Schatz, who is chasing Daryn Pittman for the series championship, put his STP/Armor All J&J on the pole for the 25-lap main event, where he was nearly untouchable in a dominating performance that sliced into Pittman’s advantage. Schatz will trail Pittman, who finished fourth, by 52 points entering the World Finals on Nov. 7-8-9 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

“It was a good night, I got qualified decent and had a good heat race, really good dash and built on it for the feature,” said Schatz, of Fargo, N.D., who is fourth all-time in World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series history with 146 wins, seven behind Mark Kinser. “In the 25 laps, the car changed quite a bit, but the guys did a really good job, and they keep finding ways to make this car better and more fun for me to drive. I tried to play my lap traffic smart and get around them as quick as I could without jeopardizing anything.”

Paul McMahan was the runner-up at the Saturday night event during NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week XLII at the 5/8-mile oval, holding off third-place finishing Craig Dollansky. Pittman, who is attempting to win his first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series crown, minimized the damage from Schatz’s victory by finishing fourth in the A-main to go with a strong qualifying run. Kraig Kinser, who always seems to run well at Rolling Wheels, rounded out the top five.

“The car was pretty good, but just a little short tonight,” said McMahan, who resides near Nashville, Tenn. “We were getting better as the race went on, but just didn’t have enough to catch Donny. The track stays about the same every time we come here, but the key to this place is just starting up front. Hopefully in a few weeks we can pick up one more spot.”

The race was covered by CBS Sports Network to air a two-hour broadcast at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 1.

The lone caution of the feature flew on lap five as Joey Saldana rolled to a stop on the front stretch. On the restart, Schatz surged ahead of McMahan’s CJB Motorsports machine and weaved through lapped traffic to take the win.

Dollansky, who won the second of three heat races, started the feature event in the seventh position. Five laps into 25-lap main event he was running fourth. On the restart, he first fell behind Pittman before moving to the top line and on the next lap drove his EyeCon Trail Cameras entry around Pittman to take the third position.

“There were a couple of grooves out there to work with,” said Dollansky, of Elk River, Minn. “It seemed like the top groove favored the way that our car was. We hated to see that yellow flag when Joey stopped. I ran the bottom a couple of different times, but I was really just trying to create different lanes where you could pass. Starting where we did and get up there and in the mix was a pretty good run for us.”

Cody Darrah earned the KSE Hard Charger award with a seventh-place finish in the feature event after winning the Last Chance Showdown and starting 18th.

Steve Buckwalter of Royersford, Pa., who was on the pole for both World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series races last weekend at Williams Grove Speedway, represented the highest finishing member of the Pennsylvania Posse and continued a string of three-consecutive top-10 finishes. After posting the third-quickest time in qualifying, Blake Breen started the feature in fourth position but contact coming to the green in the A-main ended his night with suspension damage.

World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars Return to Devil’s Bowl Speedway in 2014
Homecoming for Outlaws next April at site of inaugural event in suburban Dallas
MESQUITE, Texas – Sept. 19, 2013 – The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series is returning to the place where it all began, Devil’s Bowl Speedway, with a weekend that immediately stands out as a must-see event on the 2014 schedule.

The Texas Outlaw Nationals will feature two complete shows and plenty of off-track activities for the fans on Friday, April 18, 2014, and Saturday, April 19, 2014, at the track where the series ran its first race on March 18, 1978. Some of the greatest sprint car drivers in history have competed on the Devil’s Bowl banked half-mile dirt oval through the years, but “The Greatest Show on Dirt” last raced there on March 15, 2003.

“It’s been a long time since the Outlaws raced where it all began, we’re excited for their return,” Devil’s Bowl owner Lanny Edwards said. “This weekend is going to be big.”

Devil’s Bowl played a key role in the history of the series, and on Saturday, April 19, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series will honor its founder by awarding the first Ted Johnson Cup to the winner.

“Coming home to Devil’s Bowl in Mesquite is exciting, and honoring Ted is also very important to us,” said World of Outlaws CEO Brian Carter. “To race in Ted’s honor at the site of his first World of Outlaws event will be a highly emotional night, for sure. The Texas Outlaw Nationals will be a huge homecoming for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars and an event to remember.”

Sammy Swindell earned 12 World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series wins at Devil’s Bowl while Steve Kinser has 10 wins at the semi-banked half-mile oval in suburban Dallas. Swindell, Kinser and the rest of the Outlaws will battle the best of Texas and travelers from across the country in the richest race the state has ever seen. Saturday night’s feature will pay $20,000 to the winner and $1,000 to start while Friday night’s show will pay $8,000-to-win for a total weekend payout in excess of $100,000.

Saldana Captures His First World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Victory of the Season
Earns win to kick off 60th Gold Cup weekend at Silver Dollar Speedway

CHICO, Calif. – Sept. 6, 2013 – Joey Saldana drove his Motter Equipment machine to the lead with seven laps to go on Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway then held on to win his first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series race of the season and kick off the 60th Gold Cup Race of Champions weekend in style.

Pole-sitter Jason Sides led twice and held onto second as Andy Forsberg, an ecstatic local racer, was cheered by the partial California crowd after earning the third spot on the podium. Shane Stewart recouped from a wreck on Wednesday night at Cottage Grove Speedway to finish fourth while Tim Kaeding, winner of the previous two World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car events, was fifth after charging from 19th to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award.

Sides started on the pole of the 30-lap feature event and worked the bottom while second-place running Brad Sweet worked the top side of the high-banked quarter-mile oval. On lap four, following a restart, Sweet got the drive he needed off of turn two to take the lead.

Sweet led the next 10 laps, holding the lead over the course of several cautions. On lap 16, following a restart and a pair of single file restarts, the field again came to the green flag with Sweet leading Sides. Sides jumped to the inside of Sweet entering one and he was unable to slow his car down and get it turned. The ensuing contact flipped Sweet into turns one and two, while Sides drove away from the accident scene. Sweet rejoined the field following another caution. Sides later apologized to Sweet, a native Californian who clearly had a lot of support in the grandstands.

Saldana immediately joined the fight for the lead after the incident. Saldana stalked Sides, but for several laps was unable to mount a charge. Finally Saldana saw his chance on lap 22 while Sides was attempting to navigate lap traffic. Sides slipped up and Saldana pounced to lead lap 23.

Saldana also holds the provisional top spot for the Gold Cup Race of Champions. Both nights of racing will be tallied up and the competitor with the best combined finish will earn a $5,000 bonus.

“We started sixth and worked out way up to third and obviously with Jason and Brad getting together that changed the scenario of the race,” said Saldana, of Brownsburg, Ind. “Jason had a good car and when we got into lapped traffic he slipped up and we got him. Honestly when we were racing I was thinking top three and I’d be content with that. This is a very tough series and to be out here competing with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series is what I want to do. To win one of these races is very, very hard and anybody that does it has earned an awesome accomplishment.”

Sides attempted to gain the lead back in the Wetherington Tractor Service Maxim, but Saldana was determined to put his first-year Motter Motorsports team in victory lane for the first time since it rejoined the series after nearly 15 years of being on the sidelines.

After the race Sides fielded no questions, but issued an apology to Sweet for the contact earlier in the race.

Forsberg, of Auburn, Calif., started the event second and after falling back, charged back up to a podium finish in the A&A Stepping Stone and Autism Awareness Maxim.

“We’ve run decent with the Outlaws before, but it’s been a long time,” Forsberg said. “This year we’ve been decent here on Friday nights with the 410 this year. The Outlaws are up here and the locals are down here and every now and then the proverbial blind squirrel finds a nut.”

The championship battle seemed to be at near status quo with Daryn Pittman and Donny Schatz separated by just single position. Schatz however, suffered a mechanical failure on the final lap of the race in the final corner, sending him over the berm. With a caution-laden race, there were few cars lapped. Schatz fell from the eighth position to 22nd while Pittman crossed the line sixth.

With the difference in the finish positions Pittman earned 32 points in the championship hunt to open his lead to 58 points over Schatz.

Tony Stewart Racing’s Donny Schatz Brings His World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Hot Streak to Castrol Raceway
Kasey Kahne Racing trio looks to cool off Knoxville Nationals champ
EDMONTON, Alberta – Aug. 20, 2013 – Tony Stewart Racing’s Donny Schatz was a winner on the first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series weekend at Castrol Raceway in 2007, now he returns this weekend to the 7th Oil City Cup as the hottest driver in sprint car racing.

Just over a week ago Schatz wrapped up his seventh FVP Knoxville Nationals crown, and is coming off a weekend sweep of events in his native North Dakota. Never before has he reached 16 wins so quickly in his career, now Schatz is focused on trying to run down Kasey Kahne Racing’s Daryn Pittman, who has led the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship since the opening night of the season.

Don’t expect the Kasey Kahne Racing crew to back down from the challenge. There have been 12 World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series events at Castrol since 2007, and KKR teams have won a quarter of them. In addition to Pittman, former Castrol winner Cody Darrah and 2013 Kings Royal winner Brad Sweet will be tackling the 3/8-mile oval trying to bring back a win for KKR.

Standing in the way of the Tony Stewart Racing and Kasey Kahne Racing teams might just be the Big Game Treestands duo of Craig Dollansky and Sammy Swindell. Both drivers split the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series features last year and are eager to repeat their winning performances this Friday and Saturday.

The driver with the most Outlaw victories at Castrol is Joey Saldana, who has helped to relaunch the Motter Motorsports team this year and is in search of his first victory of the season. Saldana is chasing his fourth victory at Castrol.

Tony Stewart Racing’s Steve Kinser won the first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event in 2007 at Castrol, and he returns this year with renewed energy after winning last week in Nebraska and finishing second on Sunday night in North Dakota. Kinser is on his best run of the season and figures to be in the mix for another Castrol victory.

Tony Stewart Racing’s Donny Schatz Brings His World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Hot Streak to Castrol Raceway
Kasey Kahne Racing trio looks to cool off Knoxville Nationals champ
EDMONTON, Alberta – Aug. 20, 2013 – Tony Stewart Racing’s Donny Schatz was a winner on the first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series weekend at Castrol Raceway in 2007, now he returns this weekend to the 7th Oil City Cup as the hottest driver in sprint car racing.

Just over a week ago Schatz wrapped up his seventh FVP Knoxville Nationals crown, and is coming off a weekend sweep of events in his native North Dakota. Never before has he reached 16 wins so quickly in his career, now Schatz is focused on trying to run down Kasey Kahne Racing’s Daryn Pittman, who has led the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship since the opening night of the season.

Don’t expect the Kasey Kahne Racing crew to back down from the challenge. There have been 12 World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series events at Castrol since 2007, and KKR teams have won a quarter of them. In addition to Pittman, former Castrol winner Cody Darrah and 2013 Kings Royal winner Brad Sweet will be tackling the 3/8-mile oval trying to bring back a win for KKR.

Standing in the way of the Tony Stewart Racing and Kasey Kahne Racing teams might just be the Big Game Treestands duo of Craig Dollansky and Sammy Swindell. Both drivers split the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series features last year and are eager to repeat their winning performances this Friday and Saturday.

The driver with the most Outlaw victories at Castrol is Joey Saldana, who has helped to relaunch the Motter Motorsports team this year and is in search of his first victory of the season. Saldana is chasing his fourth victory at Castrol.

Tony Stewart Racing’s Steve Kinser won the first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event in 2007 at Castrol, and he returns this year with renewed energy after winning last week in Nebraska and finishing second on Sunday night in North Dakota. Kinser is on his best run of the season and figures to be in the mix for another Castrol victory.

Schatz Dominates World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars at Ohsweken
Defending champ continues hot streak, earns his 13th victory of the season
OHSWEKEN, Ontario – July 30, 2013 – Donny Schatz started on the outside pole for the main event on Tuesday night at Ohsweken Speedway, sized up the lead for 11 laps then swept in front and never looked back, crushing the competition for his 13th World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory of the season.

For the second consecutive race, Jason Sides started on the pole. He charged out to an early lead until he was slowed by lapped traffic on lap 11, allowing Schatz around him. Schatz then faced traffic himself, coming up on several pairs of cars racing the top and bottom for position, forcing the five-time series champ to navigate three-car battles several times.

Once in front, though, Schatz was nearly untouchable in his STP/Armor All J&J, taking the checkered flag nearly 7 seconds ahead of runner-up Chad Kemenah.

“We just had to figure out where the racetrack was going to be, move around a little bit,” said Schatz, of Fargo, N.D. “We started moving around and found a different line and got rolling and that was really fun. There were lapped cars racing each other and we were able to stick our nose in there and get past them.”

Kemenah made a strong showing, starting third and passing Sides late in the race to pick up second position in his Hampshire Engines Maxim. Kemenah was noticeably quicker than much of the competition, but was never able to mount a challenge against Schatz for the lead.

“We went out late in qualifying and had a good run,” said Kemenah, of Elvada, Ohio. “We had a pretty strong heat race, and missed it a bit in the dash and Donny got around us. But overall to come out here second I can’t complain, we’re really happy with it. Jason and I were racing really hard for a couple of laps, but Jason will race you really clean, so you’ve got to race those guys clean. This is a morale boost headed into Pevely, which is a really fun race, then of course the Knoxville Nationals.”

Championship leader Daryn Pittman started seventh. Early in the race he picked up several positions before it seemed as if he would settle for a top-five finish. Then a late-race surge lifted him to third as the race wound down.

“I would have liked to have had some yellows, but they said Schatz won by six seconds so I think anyone would be fooling themselves to say they just needed a yellow to beat him,” said Pittman, a native of Owasso, Okla. “We were moving forward the first few laps, but then we really stalled out. With about five to go we found out where we needed to be and got really quick. We ran Sides, McMahan and Tony down really quickly. We definitely made big improvements from our heat race to the dash and then again for the A-main. We ran third, and sometimes that’s just all we got.”

The third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-place drivers of Pittman, Sides, Tony Stewart and Paul McMahan came to the stripe separated by just over one-second. Sides held on for fourth while Stewart finished fifth.

Shane Stewart was ninth after starting 15th to pick up the KSE Hard Charger award.

Schatz’s victory closes the gap at the top of the championship point standings another by six points. Pittman still sits at the top while Schatz is now only 79 points back. McMahan is third in points and another strong run helps him continue to hold pace with the top two.

Dollansky Aims for Third Consecutive Ironman Title at I-55
Challenging World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car event Aug. 2-3 near St. Louis
PEVELY, Mo. – July 26, 2013 – It’s perhaps the most challenging race on the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series schedule. It’s a race that demands so much out of a driver that two years ago the winner couldn’t even lift the trophy in victory lane. It’s the fifth annual Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55.

The event returns to two days once again this year, Friday, Aug. 2, and Saturday, Aug. 3, in two complete events at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, just south of St. Louis. Night one is challenging in its own right on the high-banks of I-55, but the second night is a 55-lap display of all that is right about dirt track racing.

Competing all out for 55 laps against the toughest winged sprint car racers in the world on the high-banked 1/3-mile Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 is no small task — especially in the heat of summer in the St. Louis suburbs. Breathtaking speeds and wicked slide jobs. Wheel-to-wheel action on nearly every inch of the track. Fearless competitors taking their 900 horsepower cars to the edge.

In the end goes a check to the winner for $20,000 and a 55-pound dumbbell trophy. Good luck hoisting it in the air when your arms are like rubber.

“I couldn’t do it two years ago, I was drained,” said Craig Dollansky, winner of the past two Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 titles. “It is a very, very physically demanding race, it’s demanding on your racecar, your equipment and your crew. You definitely have to have a great team, everybody has to be prepared, and I feel great about our Eyecon Trail Camera team going into the event.”

The high-banked track owned by NASCAR Mudsummer Classic pole-sitter Kenny Schrader and groomed by co-promoter Ray Marler is a perfect venue for the Outlaws to showcase their skills. Leaders slice and dice through traffic while clicking off laps in 11 seconds. Never is there a shortage of action.

The race requires 100 percent focus, physically and mentally. No other event presents the same challenge for as long as the Ironman.

“It’s a long race and it’s a demanding race,” said Dollansky, of Elk River, Minn., who has won four World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series events in his career at I-55, tied with Steve Kinser for most series victories in track history. “There are a lot of things you have to think about. Ray does a great job of prepping that track where it puts on a great race for the fans. It’s probably one of the raciest racetracks in the country. It has its challenges but it’s a race I can’t wait to get to.

“It just seems like it’s my style of racetrack. We’ve been pretty good there over the years. I can’t really explain it. I really enjoy racing there a lot. It’s unique.”

Joey Saldana is a three-time winner at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, including the inaugural Ironman event in 2009. Points-leader Daryn Pittman won at Pevely in 2002 while the series’ leader in victories, Donny Schatz, won there in 2006.

The Outlaws first raced at Pevely in 1987 with Brad Doty earning the victory, and have been back every year since 1996.

A two-day ticket package is $60 and can be ordered online at WorldofOutlaws.com or by calling 877-395-8606. Reserved seats purchased in advance for Friday’s event are $32 and advance general admission is $30. Reserved seats purchased in advance for Saturday’s event are $38 and adult general admission is $35. Children 12 and under are free in general admission both nights.

ROSSBURG, Ohio. – July 13, 2013 – It was only a matter of time until Brad Sweet tasted victory lane at Eldora Speedway in World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series competition. However, no one would have guessed it would have been in one of the most prestigious races anywhere in dirt track racing, the Kings Royal.

Sweet, of Grass Valley, Calif., started outside of Brandon Wimmer for the 30th running of the historic event and jumped out to an early lead in the 40-lap, $50,000-to-win race in his Kasey Kahne Racing Ollie’s Bargain Outlets ride. A three-car battle that included Wimmer and Donny Schatz prevented Sweet from running away.

On the final restart on lap 25, after a wreck involving Chad Kemenah and Paul McMahan battling for the fifth position, Sweet struggled at first to retake the lead as Schatz put the pressure on in his attempt to become a three-time Kings Royal winner. By the 27th lap, though, Sweet had fully cleared Schatz and with 13 more clean laps through lapped traffic found himself crowned King.

“It’s unbelievable to win the Kings Royal,” said Sweet, who has narrowly missed out on winning a World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event at Eldora several times, including Friday night when he finished second. “It’s still sinking in, but we’ve been fast here so I knew we could do it. I can’t thank my guys enough, Kasey Kahne Racing, Kasey Kahne himself for giving me this opportunity, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, my guys Dave, Eric, Rob and Willie. It was déjà vu on coming up to try to get around Sammy Swindell again to lap him. I know Donny’s going to be good and the first time we restarted I chose the top and he had me beat going into one and if he would’ve gone to the top it would’ve made it a much closer race.”

The night wasn’t all smooth sailing for Sweet. The Ollie’s Bargain Outlet machine blew a motor in qualifying and saw Sweet start sixth in the fifth heat race. In a show of incredible speed, Sweet was able to work his way to the lead to earn the outside pole for the Kings Royal feature event.

For the waning laps of the event it appeared that it would either be Schatz and Sweet in the top two positions, but in the final three laps Tim Kaeding made huge strides. After losing pace with both of the leaders for several laps on lap 38 Kaeding made huge gains to catch Schatz. The position would not be decided until the final lap. Kaeding issued a hard slider to Schatz going into turn one, but slid up the track losing time. It looked like all was lost for the San Jose, Calif., native when he threw his Roth Enterprises-backed machine into turn three and appeared to will the car to stick pulling even with Schatz.

From there it was an even drag race to the checkered flag that Kaeding won by a mere quarter of a second.

“We had a great race car all night, and we just wanted to see how things fell in place,” Kaeding said. “Brad was fast in open traffic, but kind slowed up in traffic and gave Donny and I a chance to get a run at him. We’ve had a rough couple of nights, but to come back and finish second at the Kings Royal is awesome.”

Schatz had to settle for third in the Tony Stewart Racing STP/Armor All J&J.

“Brad was awfully quick up top and I didn’t use up enough track trying to get past him,” said Schatz, of Fargo, N.D. “We weren’t really prepared to have a fuel stop (on lap 25 during the Kemenah and McMahan red flag) so we weren’t ready with shock changes and that stuff. I lost a spot to Tim I was just hoping Brad would make a mistake with a lapped car and I would be in a different groove but that didn’t happen. You know, second, third, it doesn’t matter the only thing we came for was a win and we didn’t get it so we may as well finished 20th.”

Tony Stewart finished better Saturday than he did Friday, but that wasn’t the whole story. Stewart made the feature through his heat race, but did not find the finish he wanted. Stewart faced an early exit on lap 16 after alleging contact with TSR teammate and former Kings Royal champion, Steve Kinser. The contact led to Stewart flipping coming off of the turn 4. Stewart would finish 23rd on the night and voiced his displeasure over the PA system at his driver much to the fans’ surprise.

Wimmer held on to a fourth-place finish while crowd favorite and Wooster, Ohio native, Jac Haudenschild wowed everybody by moving through the field to capture fifth.

Brad Sweet Earns Crown in 30th Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway
Californian dominates for second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car win
ROSSBURG, Ohio. – July 13, 2013 – It was only a matter of time until Brad Sweet tasted victory lane at Eldora Speedway in World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series competition. However, no one would have guessed it would have been in one of the most prestigious races anywhere in dirt track racing, the Kings Royal.

Sweet, of Grass Valley, Calif., started outside of Brandon Wimmer for the 30th running of the historic event and jumped out to an early lead in the 40-lap, $50,000-to-win race in his Kasey Kahne Racing Ollie’s Bargain Outlets ride. A three-car battle that included Wimmer and Donny Schatz prevented Sweet from running away.

On the final restart on lap 25, after a wreck involving Chad Kemenah and Paul McMahan battling for the fifth position, Sweet struggled at first to retake the lead as Schatz put the pressure on in his attempt to become a three-time Kings Royal winner. By the 27th lap, though, Sweet had fully cleared Schatz and with 13 more clean laps through lapped traffic found himself crowned King.

“It’s unbelievable to win the Kings Royal,” said Sweet, who has narrowly missed out on winning a World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event at Eldora several times, including Friday night when he finished second. “It’s still sinking in, but we’ve been fast here so I knew we could do it. I can’t thank my guys enough, Kasey Kahne Racing, Kasey Kahne himself for giving me this opportunity, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, my guys Dave, Eric, Rob and Willie. It was déjà vu on coming up to try to get around Sammy Swindell again to lap him. I know Donny’s going to be good and the first time we restarted I chose the top and he had me beat going into one and if he would’ve gone to the top it would’ve made it a much closer race.”

The night wasn’t all smooth sailing for Sweet. The Ollie’s Bargain Outlet machine blew a motor in qualifying and saw Sweet start sixth in the fifth heat race. In a show of incredible speed, Sweet was able to work his way to the lead to earn the outside pole for the Kings Royal feature event.

For the waning laps of the event it appeared that it would either be Schatz and Sweet in the top two positions, but in the final three laps Tim Kaeding made huge strides. After losing pace with both of the leaders for several laps on lap 38 Kaeding made huge gains to catch Schatz. The position would not be decided until the final lap. Kaeding issued a hard slider to Schatz going into turn one, but slid up the track losing time. It looked like all was lost for the San Jose, Calif., native when he threw his Roth Enterprises-backed machine into turn three and appeared to will the car to stick pulling even with Schatz.

From there it was an even drag race to the checkered flag that Kaeding won by a mere quarter of a second.

“We had a great race car all night, and we just wanted to see how things fell in place,” Kaeding said. “Brad was fast in open traffic, but kind slowed up in traffic and gave Donny and I a chance to get a run at him. We’ve had a rough couple of nights, but to come back and finish second at the Kings Royal is awesome.”

Schatz had to settle for third in the Tony Stewart Racing STP/Armor All J&J.

“Brad was awfully quick up top and I didn’t use up enough track trying to get past him,” said Schatz, of Fargo, N.D. “We weren’t really prepared to have a fuel stop (on lap 25 during the Kemenah and McMahan red flag) so we weren’t ready with shock changes and that stuff. I lost a spot to Tim I was just hoping Brad would make a mistake with a lapped car and I would be in a different groove but that didn’t happen. You know, second, third, it doesn’t matter the only thing we came for was a win and we didn’t get it so we may as well finished 20th.”

Tony Stewart finished better Saturday than he did Friday, but that wasn’t the whole story. Stewart made the feature through his heat race, but did not find the finish he wanted. Stewart faced an early exit on lap 16 after alleging contact with TSR teammate and former Kings Royal champion, Steve Kinser. The contact led to Stewart flipping coming off of the turn 4. Stewart would finish 23rd on the night and voiced his displeasure over the PA system at his driver much to the fans’ surprise.

Wimmer held on to a fourth-place finish while crowd favorite and Wooster, Ohio native, Jac Haudenschild wowed everybody by moving through the field to capture fifth.

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series is back in action Tuesday night at Lernerville Speedway for the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup Twins as the Month of Money rolls on.

Bayne, Motorcraft/Quick Lane To Start 25th at Michigan
June 14, 2013

Trevor Bayne and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion took the conservative route in qualifying and will start 25th in Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

Bayne improved on his top practice speed of 197.466 miles per hour when he took his turn at qualifying. Once he posted a speed of 198.429 mph on his first lap, assuring him of a starting spot, he coasted back to the garage, saving his car for when he needs it most – after the green flag drops on Sunday.

“We only ran one lap because we didn’t want to get the engine too hot,” team co-owner Len Wood said. “We were being careful because we knew we were in the race at that point.”

With 44 drivers entered for 43 starting spots, Bayne and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew had to outrun only one in qualifying to be assured of a starting spot. With the No. 44 car running just 184.393 mph before Bayne made his qualifying run, the pressure was off, as long as there were no issues on the qualifying lap.

“We know we have a good car for Sunday, so we wanted to be conservative,” Wood said.

Bayne and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew were thinking race strategy even as they prepared for Friday’s qualifying session. They spent a significant portion of Friday’s practice session scuffing tires for Sunday’s race, as scuffed tires are an advantage on relatively new, fast asphalt like that at Michigan.

Wood also pointed out that the Wood Brothers Motorcraft/Quick Lane team, which will make its 86th career start at Michigan on Sunday, should be able to capitalize on the track time and experience gained in a recent test session at the home track of the team’s long-time backer, Ford Motor Company.

“We spent the whole test working on race set-ups,” he said, adding that the team is looking for a strong run from the 2013 Ford Fusion it brought to Michigan, a chassis that will be run for the first time this season. “With these new Gen-6 cars, the speeds are up, and the Michigan asphalt is starting to get a little abrasive, so it ought to be a good race.”

The Quicken Loans 400 is set to get the green flag just after 1 p.m. on Sunday with TV coverage on TNT.

McMahan Powers to World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Win at Charlotte
Pittman, Larson earn podium finishes in Circle K/NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown
CONCORD, NC. – May 24, 2013 – Just past the halfway point of the Circle K/NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown on Friday night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Paul McMahan stole the lead from World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship leader Daryn Pittman.

After a restart on Lap 17, Pittman moved up the track, and McMahan saw his chance. McMahan steadily worked the bottom groove and was able to make a pass to move himself past Pittman, where he pulled away to win in the CJB Motorsports car for the second time this season.

“Last year at the World Finals we had a pretty good car coming from 22nd to second,” said McMahan, of Nashville, Tenn., who is second to Pittman in the championship standings. “This year we pretty much got the car awesome again. We ended up starting ninth in the dash and got to fifth so that was a big jump for us. In the main event we started fifth and just got rolling around and glued to the bottom, the car was so good on the bottom. And we just stayed there all night long, Daryn moved to the top, which really surprised me, and I kept pounding the bottom and was able to get by and hold on for the victory.”

Pittman continued to hang onto second in Great Clips GF1 car as Kyle Larson closed quickly on the high side following a restart with five laps to go. Larson was challenging Pittman for the second position, but came up just short of gaining the position.

“We have been good, we have been consistent, but at the end of the day you know you want to win races,” said Pittman, of Owasso, Okla. “That’s why we’re out here and that’s where you get the satisfaction, and to come that close to feel like you didn’t do your part as a driver, to know you let the crew down is the hardest part to swallow. We’re a team and we’ll come back and they’ll be disappointed, but they won’t work any less hard this week and we’ll be back for Lawrenceburg on Monday.”

Larson became a threat on the top side in the Abreu Vineyards car as the laps were winding down when he settled for third.

“I kept getting bad restarts in the beginning and was a kind of down on myself, then we got a couple of cautions late and I was able to get my momentum going around the top and it was able to clean off up there,” said Larson, of Elk Grove, Calif. “I think I needed one more caution with three of four laps to go and I might have had a shot at Daryn or Paul.”

Tony Stewart had a strong top-three run going for most of the race, but his Office Depot/Mobil 1 J&J fell to Larson in the final four laps and Stewart settled for a fourth-place finish, his third consecutive top-five finish with the Outlaws in the past week. Steve Kinser rounded out the top five, collecting his second top-five finish of the season.

Sammy Swindell’s night started on a strong note, but ended on a sour one. After qualifying in the third position overall and starting the feature on the outside of the front row, Swindell’s Big Game Treestands Eagle ended up flipping in turn one, cutting short his night.

Jason Sides earned the KSE Hard Charger award by picking up 12 spots in the A-main after starting 18th. Sides had to pass through the Last Chance Showdown to get into the feature event.

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series gets a short break over Memorial Day weekend before kicking back into action on Monday night at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway.

Pittman Captures World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car NAPA Outlaw Classic at New Egypt
Oklahoma native races with heavy heart after storms ravage his home state
NEW EGYPT, N.J. – May 21, 2013 – World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship leader Daryn Pittman is having the best season of his career, but he outdid himself Tuesday night in the NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Classic at New Egypt Speedway.

First he led 17 drivers in shattering the nearly 12-year-old track record in qualifying, then worked past Sammy Swindell on Lap 6 in the A-main and drove to his series-leading fifth victory of the season in the Kasey Kahne Racing Great Clips GF1, becoming the first driver in 2013 to set quick time and then go win the feature.

In addition to it being his fifth win, Pittman has also earned 16 top-five finishes and a staggering 22 top-10s this season in 25 events. He’s even tied with Paul McMahan with five quick-time awards to lead the series.

Pittman started the 30-lap A-main in third behind Sammy Swindell and Jason Sides. Pittman kept the pressure on, making his move to the front when Swindell was bottled up in traffic on Lap 6. Pittman never looked back, as Swindell, Sides, Tony Stewart and Donny Schatz rounded out the top five.

“I just had a good car all night we were fast from hot laps,” said Pittman, an Oklahoma native who was clearly racing with a heavy heart after seeing the catastrophic storm-related damage in his home state the past few days. “Honestly I just couldn’t ask for a better night it’s always fun when you feel like you’ve got the best car and it’s even better when you can put it to use all night long and come out with a win. [Swindell] just kind of opened it up in four getting tight and we were just really good running around the bottom and I kind of knew that would be the key the way the track was.

“Our prayers go out to everyone back in Oklahoma. It’s pretty close to home, friends actually lived in the neighborhood, and it’s unbelievable the devastation that those people are going through. I’m just praying that they can have the strength to try and get through it and that they’re definitely on our minds.”

Swindell, who started on the pole in the Big Game Treestands Eagle, led the opening five laps, but when he encountered traffic, Pittman made his move.

“We just did the best we could and still got the second,” said Swindell, of Germantown, Tenn. “You kind of hate to start on the front and not finish there, but the car is in one piece and we’ll work on it and go from there. Everything’s different from what we’ve ever run before and we’ve got to put it together and we’re close, we’ll just keep hammering on it.”

Sides started second and finished third in the Wetherington Tractor Service Maxim despite having a motor issue in the early going that forced him to fend off Stewart and Schatz in the waning laps.

“Sammy got out to a little bit of a lead, and Daryn got right past us in turn four,” said Sides, of Bartlett, Tenn. “On the second or third lap it broke a rocker arm and it started spraying fuel everywhere. If there was a caution I was just really going to pull in and go, but since it did go green we just stayed out there and got a good run. Anytime you can run top three with a broke motor that’s still pretty good.”

For the second night in a row some of the best racing on track was between Tony Stewart and his Tony Stewart Racing driver, Donny Schatz. The two eventually finished where they started, with Stewart in fourth and Schatz one position behind, but as they were forced to weave through lapped traffic, the battle grew intense.

Pittman was not the only driver to best the previous track record. In fact, the previous track record would have only been good for the 18th qualifying position.

For the second night in a row, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series feature event ran the full distance caution free. Working his way through the field and collecting the KSE Hard Charger award was Kasey Kahne Racing’s Cody Darrah, who advanced from 22nd to 15th.

There were several drivers representing the PA Posse on Tuesday night. Greg Hodnett was the highest finishing Posse member, collecting an eighth place finish.

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series takes a quick breather before heading to the Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. Friday night to kick off Memorial Day weekend with the Circle K/NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown.

Kraig Kinser Earns First 2013 Win at Historic Orange County Fair Speedway
Third generation racer dominates World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars in New York
MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – May 20, 2013 – Kraig Kinser stole the show at Orange County Fair Speedway en route to his first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series feature win of the 2013 season.

Kinser and his Messila Valley started alongside Chad Kemenah on the front row with both drivers seeking a breakthrough victory. Kinser jumped ahead on the outside and powered to the lead while Kemenah was forced to hold off third-place finishing Tony Stewart along with Paul McMahan and Donny Schatz.

The victory gives Kinser, the son of legendary King of the Outlaws Steve Kinser, four top-five runs and 10 top-10 finishes this season. It also was the first time he’s won at Orange County Fair Speedway.

“Hopefully we got out of the slump we’ve been having,” said Kinser, of Bloomington, Ind. “I started getting loose around the top and just started searching. I saw some lapped cars on the bottom when I got into traffic down there. I made a couple of turns through there and I knew that’s probably where I had to be, try to make them pass me around the top. It would be harder than leaving the bottom wide open.”

Kinser weaved through traffic in the Casey’s General Story/Messilla Valley Transportation Maxim as the event ran its full 25 laps caution free. While Kinser maintained his solid lead up front, there was a heated battle for the second through sixth positions. Kemenah started on the pole in his Hampshire Engines Maxim and finished second, but he first had to fight off Donny Schatz and his STP/Armor All J&J then later Schatz’s boss, Tony Stewart and his Chevrolet Performance/Mobil 1 J&J. Kemenah was able to maintain his track position in the lead pack of cars as points leader Daryn Pittman charged to a sixth-place run, finishing just 2.075 seconds behind Kemenah. Pittman’s sixth-place finish netted him his 21st top-10 finish of the year in the Kasey Kahne Racing Great Clips GF1.

“The season we’ve had so far with the wrecking and whatever else we’ve been doing, we’re happy,” said runner-up Kemenah, from Elvada, Ohio. “You know we’ve just got to keep running in the top five and we’ll starting winning. I killed the right rear tire so bad I was having a hard time hanging on there in the last few laps.”

Leading qualifier, Stewart, made a very hard run at Kemenah exiting turn four in the waning laps, but Stewart came up short and finished in the third spot. McMahan finished fourth after starting fifth. Mid-race he battled with Schatz and Stewart and attempted to work his way up to a podium finish. Towards the end, McMahan got around Schatz to earn a hard fought fourth-place finish. Schatz crossed the line in fifth, less than a second-and-a-half behind Kemanah.

“Nobody in the top four could run the top except for Donny, then it got to where it finally cleaned off enough on the bottom to where it got a little more grip,” said Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. “That’s kind of the advantage of being behind two guys one on top and bottom, you can gauge which line is getting quicker.”

Kraig would not be the only Kinser to find success, his father and car owner, Steve Kinser would earn the KSE Hard Charger award.

Tony Stewart made the most of the dash, after a six was drawn, that was where he would start the dash. In the six-lap event, Stewart picked through the field to finish third.

Schatz Slips Past Hodnett in Final Corner, Wins Williams Grove Thriller
Defending champ drives to fourth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Victory of ’13
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – May 17, 2013 – Donny Schatz caught and passed Greg Hodnett in the final corner on Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway to win his fourth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event of the season in thrilling fashion.

Schatz, who started 12th, picked off series points leader Daryn Pittman and two of Pennsylvania’s fiercest competitors, Fred Rahmer and Hodnett, over the final three laps to win at the historic central Pennsylvania venue for the 17th time in his career.

The lead was never safe in the 25-lap feature event. Paul McMahan started on the pole and led the first 10 laps before Hodnett worked his way to the front to complete Lap 11 just as caution came out. Hodnett tried to pull away on the restart but McMahan, Rahmer and Pittman stayed in close pursuit. It looked as if the vaunted PA Posse with Hodnett and Rahmer was going to deal the Outlaws their second consecutive defeat in as many nights before Schatz ran them both down on the last lap, surprising Rahmer by going to the outside in turns 1 and 2, then setting up Hodnett in turn 3, passing under him in turn 4 and charging down the long front stretch to absolutely stun the huge crowd.

“Man to lead the last lap is important and I got Greg at just the right time, he went to the bottom to protect it and I wasn’t about to lose that way,” said Schatz, driver of the Tony Stewart Racing STP/Armor All J&J. “I gave it everything I had tonight, it worked. A lot of nights it doesn’t.”

It definitely was working for Schatz, who has now finished first or second in each of the past three World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series events as he chases his sixth series championship.

“When my tires were cold I thought I could keep momentum around the top, then those guys showed me the bottom,” said Hodnett, driver of the Trone Outdoor Maxim. “I knew I needed to slow down and put the right rear back under the wing and hopefully it rotated and got a decent shot off. Donny was just able to run way harder than we were so, you know, just chalk it up to experience.”

Rahmer, the legendary leader of the PA Posse who is experiencing a bit of a resurgence on the Pennsylvania dirt tracks this season, looked at times as if he was going to be the man to beat, but Pittman, Hodnett and eventually Schatz were able to do just enough to hold him back.

“Our car wasn’t as good as it needed to be, you can’t drop the ball at all with these guys,” said Rahmer, driver of the Truline Contractors XXX machine. “We came home third and hopefully we can come back and just make the show [on Saturday] to start and just get a little better, I’ve got to drive a little better, the guys did a good job on the car, just a little off and you can’t do that on a show like this.”

Pittman, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship leader, etched his 15th top-five finish this season with his fourth-place run after setting quick time.

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series returns Saturday night to Williams Grove Speedway where the feature event will determine where the Morgan Cup trophy will reside the remainder of 2013. The traveling trophy goes to the organization represented by the highest finishing Outlaw or PA Posse racer in Saturday’s A-main. The past two seasons, a dash determined the Morgan Cup winner, with Jason Sides and Steve Kinser earning victories that let the trophy find a home in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series office in North Carolina.