Dietrich Downs Outlaws Again, Repeats in Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln
PA Posse racer tops World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car stars for second year in a row
ABOTTSTOWN, Pa. – May 16, 2013 – A year after being schooled by the vaunted Pennsylvania Posse at Lincoln Speedway, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series racers made great strides but still came up short as local star Danny Dietrich powered to victory in the Gettysburg Clash for the second consecutive season.

Last year it was hard to find an Outlaw in the top 10 at Lincoln, this time around Donny Schatz pressured Dietrich for the entire 35 laps before settling for second by about a car length at the checkered flag. Sammy Swindell, Tim Kaeding and Brad Sweet rounded out the top five on the first of four consecutive nights of action for the Outlaws.

Dietrich remained faithful to the bottom of the race track, making Schatz have to use the high side to get around him. Schatz kept pace using the high side early on, but as the bottom proved to be the preferred line he moved down and tried to force Dietrich into a making mistake.

“Just was determined to get the jump on every restart, I screwed up a couple of times, but was able to recover from it,” said Dietrich, of Aspers, Pa. “I saw his nose probably half a dozen times, I was just trying to hit my marks, I figured if I could just hit my marks everything would probably be OK. It just feels real good to beat the best of the best guys in the world.”

Dietrich wound up leading all 35 laps in his Sandoes Fruit Market Maxim, and the capacity crowd went crazy as the PA Posse member pulled into victory lane.

“I tried everything, tried pulling the wing back, putting it forward,” said Schatz, driver of the Tony Stewart Racing STP/Armor All J&J from Fargo, N.D. “The guys did a tremendous job, you come out here there is some pretty stiff competition, we’re not happy with second, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Also for the second consecutive year at Lincoln, Sammy Swindell qualified at the top of the charts in the Big Game Treestands Eagle and was able to earn a position in the dash. An unlucky dash draw of eight, though, shifted Swindell from the front to row to the fourth row, where he eventually worked his way back to a podium finish by the end of the night.

“The last couple of weeks have been really bad for us, and so it’s good to come here and get a third,” said Sammy Swindell, of Germantown, Tenn. “We were a little scared to go too far. Everything we did the first part of the year seemed to be wrong. To come here and get a third is just great.”

Sixth-place finishing Brent Marks was the next PA Posse driver in the finishing order, one spot ahead of World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship point leader Daryn Pittman.

The night did not go so well for one of the PA Posse’s biggest stars, Greg Hodnett, from Thomasville, Pa. He went out late in time trials and qualified an impressive eighth, when few drivers were moving up in the qualifying order. But Hodnett’s night would end there, as a mechanical failure would keep the car off of the track for the rest of the event.

Kerry Madsen managed to save what could have been a rough night. The Aussie qualified a dismal 40th but he was able to work his way up to the third position in his heat race, and was racing for a spot in the dash. He would not be able to take the dash spot away from Hafertepe Jr., but he would go to the feature. Madsen started 24th in the feature due to his qualifying position, but picked up eight spots to finish 16th.

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series heads to Williams Grove Speedway on Friday and Saturday, with Saturday night’s feature now the determining event for 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.

Schatz Continues Mastery of World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series at Knoxville
Defending champion charges to third victory of 2013 by winning Mediacom Shootout
KNOXVILLE, Iowa – May 11, 2013 – If it wasn’t obvious before, Donny Schatz made it clear on Saturday night: The path to winning at Knoxville Raceway goes through him.

Schatz charged from seventh to victory in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Mediacom Shootout at the famous half-mile, where he has won five of the past six Knoxville Nationals crowns in addition to winning six additional series races there since 2006.

In a field of 51 cars, it was Brian Brown, Craig Dollansky and Tim Kaeding who tried to prevent Schatz from returning to Knoxville’s victory lane, a place Schatz practically calls home. Brown earned his second pole of the season and jumped out to a quick lead before Dollansky was able to slide into the top spot on lap 9. Meanwhile, Schatz reeled in Kaeding, then Brown and set his sights on Dollansky.

On lap 18, Schatz stalked Dollansky through lapped traffic in his STP/Armor All J&J, finally making his move on the exit of turn two as they headed down the backstretch. A red flag for Rager Phillips in turn four forced a restart, and a multi-car crash on the frontstretch led to another, helping Schatz secure his advantage. Schatz then pulled away over the waning laps, leaving Dollansky and Brown to battle for second, which Dollansky took in the Eyecon Trail Cameras Maxim. Kerry Madsen and Paul McMahan went side-by-side in a race for fourth, which Madsen earned in the Keneric Racing KPC.

“This place is just unique, and we’ve come here so many times in the past and were so terrible and then one day figured it out,” said Schatz, of Fargo, N.D. “These guys on this STP team do a phenomenal job and when it works it seems like it works at a lot of places.”

Schatz made the pass for the lead on the top side of the track, and then extended his advantage by working the bottom groove. The victory was Schatz’s third of the season, one behind points leader Daryn Pittman and Friday night winner Tim Kaeding.

“Just a hard fought battle with the Eyecon Trail Cameras car and we came up one spot short,” said Dollansky, of Elk River, Minn. “We came home second tonight, but we’ll keep working hard at things and keep plugging away.”

Dollansky’s team seems to be hitting its groove, earning a third-place finish on Friday night at Elko Speedway to go with his runner-up finish on Saturday. Brown’s team also appears to be on the right track with the Casey’s General Stores/FVP Maxim, clearly using Saturday’s night performance as a measuring stick for where it believes it needs to be in August during the Nationals.

“We just got a little free as the race went on and could never do anything with him,” said Brown, of Grain Valley, Mo. “Schatz is always good here and a good top three is nothing to hang your head about, but we definitely want to win.”

Overall it was a busy night on the track. Kyle Larson earned the 24th position in the A-main after advancing 13 positions in the Last Chance Showdown. In the A-main, he continued to work his way forward, eventually finishing in the eighth position to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award.

Sammy Swindell, who won last season at Knoxville, posted quick time in qualifying and was on the move in the A-main, but damage to his Big Game Treestands car sustained on a restart forced him to the back of the field.

World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series points leader Daryn Pittman won the Last Chance Showdown then picked up his 18th top-10 finish in 21 races this season after finishing seventh, one spot behind his Kasey Kahne Racing teammate Cody Darrah.

Tim Kaeding Takes Lead on Final Lap in Minnesota to Capture ‘FVP Outlaws at Elko’
Californian charges from 13th to earn fourth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win
ELKO, Minn. – May 10, 2013 – Tim Kaeding was in the right place at the right time to win the rain-shortened FVP Outlaws at Elko on Friday night in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series inaugural event at Elko Speedway.

A packed house saw Kaeding charge through the field from 13th to finally take the lead on lap 34, just as a red flag came out for a flipped car in turn two. Immediately after the wreck, the skies opened and a downpour forced series and track officials to call the race, handing Kaeding his fourth victory of the season.

While Kaeding was working his way to the front at Elko, a paved track that was covered in dirt for this special event, Craig Dollansky and Kerry Madsen waged a back-and-forth battle for the second consecutive Friday night. Dollansky started on the pole for the second time this season and led the first 14 laps with Madsen relentlessly hounding him. Finally, Madsen was able to get around Dollansky in a tight move going into turn one to lead laps 15 through lap 33. Kaeding, though, was too strong and Madsen was unable to hold him off on the 34th lap, which was ultimately the final lap.

“The last lap is always the best lap to lead,” said Kaeding, a native of San Jose, Calif., who drives the Roth Enterprises KPC. “The red came out right when we needed it and Mother Nature didn’t want us to finish this race I guess.

“It was a two grove track. The bottom took rubber and you had to stay in the rubber to run around or you could run the top and try not to run through the little bit of moisture that was left up there. We moved around a little bit, we were better on the top, I could carry a lot more momentum so I stayed up there and just picked the guys off.”

Madsen was trying to win his second consecutive Friday night event after taking the checkered flag last week at Eldora Speedway in his Keneric Racing KPC, but a mechanical issue in the waning laps nearly cost him his runner-up finish.

“The track was fantastic, we just had an issue and we’re very lucky to finish at all,” said Madsen, a native of St. Marys, NSW, Australia, who is trying to turn around his season after a slow start. “It’s been a nightmare, but to give away a race like that, Tim’s good, but these races are hard to win.”

Dollansky tried to take charge of the event early in his special Aggressive Hydraulics/Eyecon Trail Cameras Maxim, but after a dozen laps he knew it was going to be a struggle in front of his home state fans.

“About 12 or 13 laps in our motor laid down and I feel like we’re pretty fortunate to make it to the end,” said Dollansky, of Elk River, Minn. “It was a great race and I know Tim started fairly deep so again I hope these Minnesota fans got to see a good race.”

World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship points leader Daryn Pittman logged another solid top-five run, finishing fourth after starting 12th to continue his incredible season in the Kasey Kahne Racing Great Clips Maxim. It was Pittman’s 17th top-10 finish and his 14th top-five run with four wins in 20 events this season.

Next up, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series heads south to historic Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway on Saturday night for the Mediacom Shootout.

Schatz Claims Epic Thriller in Outlaws Return to Kings Speedway
Seven official lead changes highlight the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event
 
HANFORD, Calif. – April 12, 2013 – Wearing an ear-to-ear grin, Chad Kemenah hopped out of his car and went in for the hug on Donny Schatz.
Keep in mind, Kemenah had just finished second to Schatz in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series return to Kings Speedway on Friday night.

“That’s just what happens when you get a race track to race on wide enough,” Kemenah said. “These fans come out and just get a hell of a show. That was a lot of passing.

“I just want to thank all the fans for coming out here and Donny for such a good race. They got their money’s worth and we’re excited.”

Schatz was a bit more subdued in celebrating his first career victory at the 3/8-mile track, which has featured a different winner in each of the last seven World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series main events.

“It was fun to have a good enough car to go around the race track in perfect condition to be able to go on the top and the bottom all the way around the whole track,” Schatz said. “It was fun, but it was definitely not an easy win.”

Despite nine cautions that kept the leader out of traffic, the race showcased seven official lead changes and possibly twice as many actual ones. Schatz and polesitter Tim Kaeding swapped the lead five times in the first 10 laps before a flat right rear tire derailed Kaeding around the midpoint of the 35-lap feature.

But as Kaeding faded before eventually spinning off the track in turn two on Lap 20, Kemenah picked up the heat on Schatz and rocketed to the top spot exiting turn two on Lap 17. He held onto the lead until Schatz powered around him in turn two on Lap 22.

“You knew the track was going to change drastically and it was pretty slick when we started,” Schatz said. “We were able to maneuver on both ends.”

Kemenah stayed within striking distance as they hit traffic on Lap 28, but the ninth – and final – caution flag was waved one lap later as D.J. Netto collided with fourth-place running David Gravel in turn two. The crash popped Gravel’s left rear tire and forced him to pit. He returned to the race, but finished 12th.

Schatz got a clean restart and maintained the lead in the closing laps with Kemenah and third-running Sammy Swindell in tow.

“It was a fun race to watch,” Swindell said. “We weren’t any better than they were. It might have been different if I could have ever got to the front, but I don’t think we were strong enough to quite get there. It was fun to watch and be able to participate in it.”

Championship points leader Daryn Pittman, who dropped from 13th to last place after spinning on the opening lap, placed fourth to collect his series-leading ninth top five. Kraig Kinser drove from 12th to finish fifth.

Joey Saldana ended sixth, Craig Dollansky seventh, Paul McMahan eighth and Kyle Hirst charged from 20th to ninth to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award. Steve Kinser rounded out the top 10.

After driving from the back up to eighth following his caution, Kaeding slid off the track on the final lap and was credited with a 13th-place finish.

Golobic Realizes Dream as World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Winner
He leads the final 21 laps and outlasts childhood hero Saldana at Antioch Speedway
 
ANTIOCH, Calif. – April 5, 2013 – The offseason, weekdays, every night before falling asleep. There is a lot of time spent dreaming and for a young sprint car driver, dreams are the gateway for perseverance.
On Friday at Antioch Speedway, Shane Golobic’s dreams were nothing like reality.

Golobic passed polesitter Jonathan Allard in thick traffic on lap 10 and held off Joey Saldana – Golobic’s favorite World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series driver – to capture his first career victory, which left him talking almost as fast as he drove after an emotional celebration on the frontstretch.

“It doesn’t compare,” Golobic said as a smile engulfed his face. “I always knew it’d be pretty awesome to win one. I didn’t know if I was ever going to get the chance. There’s some guys who win a lot of races and don’t ever get to win an Outlaws race, so to be able to do it is awesome.

“I couldn’t be happier right now. We beat the best. The Outlaws are the best and we beat them. It’s just surreal to even think that we did it.”

Allard took the early advantage at the start of the 30-lap feature with Golobic in tow. Golobic twice pulled side by side with Allard in turns one and two only to see Allard’s momentum help him maintain the lead.

The duo reached traffic on Lap 7 and Golobic nearly made it three wide exiting turn two as he and Allard lapped Chad Kemenah, who had to start at the back of the field after going to the work area to change an MSD box before the green flag.

However, Golobic thought better and backed off. Three laps later, Golobic powered around Allard in turns three and four to gain the lead amidst a handful of cars in traffic.

“In traffic it’s almost better to be running second,” Golobic said. “He just kinda got hung up behind a lapped car and I kinda saw that and went to the top and got him. We got out front and started working traffic.”

Allard dropped to fifth in two laps with Saldana picking up the pressure on Golobic. With about 10 laps remaining, Golobic struggled to lap Dominic Scelzi, who started the feature as the alternate when Kerry Madsen was unable to take the green flag because of a broken roll pin in the magneto.

“I knew Saldana was coming pretty hard toward the end,” Golobic said. “He’s been my favorite Outlaw for a lot of years, so for him to run second to me, it’s crazy.”

Saldana closed to within two car lengths, but Golobic was effective enough at picking his way through traffic and after clearing Scelzi with a handful of laps remaining, Golobic pulled away.

“I thought we had a shot there, but lapped traffic was tough,” Saldana said. “I screwed up on one of them lapped cars and it cost me a shot at winning.

“(Golobic’s) been running extremely strong. This is the style of racing that he likes and he did a great job tonight. He stayed focused with his car the whole night and ran a great race.”

Cody Darrah passed Californian Tim Kaeding, who won the last World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event at Antioch Speedway, for third place with three laps remaining.

“We were a little free when we were out in the open, but in lapped traffic I felt like we really had an advantage,” Darrah said. “I love this race track. It’s aggressive, especially tonight. It’s one of those race tracks where you do the opposite that you do at every other place.”

Kaeding finished fourth and NASCAR sensation Kyle Larson ended fifth.

Sammy Swindell was sixth, Allard seventh, Donny Schatz eighth, Kyle Hirst ninth and championship points leader Daryn Pittman rounded out the top 10.

Scelzi earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after maneuvering from 24th to 18th.

World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Returns to the Wild West
The Outlaws only visit to Texas in 2013 features a new and unique track for the series
 
By Dan Beaver – EL PASO, Texas – April 4, 2013 – World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series drivers face a clean slate on Tuesday, April 16, as they head to El Paso for the first-ever race on that track and their only visit to Texas in 2013.
It has been two years since the Outlaws were last in Texas, but the most recent race was held on the other side of the state at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown. Sammy Swindell won the 40-lap feature that night, but he and the rest of the drivers face a new challenge at El Paso Speedway Park.

Sprint car fans in West Texas are hungry for big league competition because the track is not only new to the series, so is the venue-sort of. The last time the Outlaws were in this part of the country, they were not in the country at all but rather across the border in Mexico at Autopista Juarez in 1992.

Steve Kinser is the only driver with experience in the market and on this track. “I was a lot younger at the time, but I remember winning that race and it is always part of the conversation when we get back to this area.”

Kinser also raced at El Paso last November in a 360 sprint car. “I have had an opportunity to be on track but it was in daytime and it will change under the lights. Running there at all could be a little benefit, but I didn’t get a chance to run very long because of some mechanical difficulties.”

He knows the challenges faced by the new venue cannot be minimized. “We have a really tough group of cars and you have to come off the hauler fast.”

El Paso Speedway Park has some unique characteristics that not only make it challenging for the drivers, but enjoyable for the fans. This 0.375-mile D-shaped oval has an elevated backstretch, which means “there isn’t a bad seat in the house,” according to one of the track owners Royal Jones. “A lot of time, the track keeps its cushion very well, sometimes in the middle groove and sometimes high, so we should be able to keep the competition lively.”

“Anticipation is already high and reserve tickets are already moving,” Jones said. And all of the fans who purchase advanced reserved seating are eligible for a free fan pit pass as well.

That excitement is echoed by Chris Morgan of Motorsport Ventures, the event’s promoter. “It’s great to be back in this market and the fans have always been supportive of the Outlaws there, whether we were in Hollywood Hills over in Albuquerque or Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces. They show up in force for any event, weekend or week night.”

“This is going to be a big show, so even though this is the first time we have been to El Paso, it is almost certainly not going to be the last,” Morgan said.

McMahan Celebrates an Eventful Day at Mini Gold Cup
He also announces full-time status with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series
 
CHICO, Calif. – March 23, 2013 – Saturday was a day of celebration and commemoration for Paul McMahan.
It began during the bright afternoon when he announced his CJB Motorsports team will compete full time this season with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series. It was then capped under the lights with a splattering of confetti on the frontstretch at Silver Dollar Speedway, where McMahan earned his 15    th career World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory at the famed Mini Gold Cup.

“Kenny Speck passed away last Friday night at Tulare and we laid him to rest today, and this is the first time I’ve been back to Stephen’s (Allard) hometown here in Chico,” he said after an emotional Victory Lane. “To win here, I know he’s smiling down, looking on me – both of them are. I said earlier in the night that if I could win here this would be for them guys and I was fortunate enough to get it done.”

While McMahan was all smiles after leading the final 33 of the 40-lap feature, several other drivers left the track in a less-than-desirable mood following a hectic finish, including runner up Chad Kemenah.

After taking last weekend off to heal from a concussion, Kemenah took another wild ride as he collided with NASCAR star Tony Stewart racing for second place to the checkered flag. Kemenah won the position, but ended with a wrecked car in the process.

For Stewart, who started on the pole and led the first seven laps in his first career race at Silver Dollar Speedway, the trouble started in turn four on the final lap.

After David Gravel drove around him in turn three for second place, Gravel spun sideways in turn four. Stewart had nowhere to go and the two drivers crashed in the bottom of the corner. Both were able to keep going, but the melee started the havoc.

Stewart plowed forward to the middle of the track while Gravel’s car was momentarily straightened before he eventually spun across the finish line in sixth place.

“He’s going for a second-place finish so we can’t fault him for that,” Stewart said. “He just spun in front of us and we clipped him on the way by. Then you’re racing to the checkered there and Chad got a really good run on the inside of us. Just banged into him, drove over the left front (tire) and it tore his car all to pieces for a second-place run.”

World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series officials had to review a video replay to determine the exact finishing order for everyone behind McMahan, who is second in the championship points standings and can now chase more than wins.

“When I headed to the race track I still didn’t know what we were doing,” he said. “Right before the drivers meeting (crew chief) Barry Jackson told me that we’ve got a contract to sign. So I got pretty excited.”

Shane Golobic finished fourth and Roger Crockett placed fifth.

After Gravel, Kyle Hirst ended seventh, 14th-starter Kraig Kinser eighth, championship points leader Daryn Pittman ninth and 17th -starter Tim Kaeding rounded out the top 10.

Steve Kinser earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after maneuvering from 23rd to 13th

Larson Captures Inaugural Event at Stockton 99 Dirt Track
The NASCAR driver earns his first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of season
 
STOCKTON, Calif. – March 22, 2013 – Not too bad for a part-timer.
After hitching a ride in NASCAR star Tony Stewart’s plane, Kyle Larson, the newest NASCAR sensation, picked up his first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory of the season on Friday in front of a sold-out crowd during the inaugural event at Stockton 99 Dirt Track.

“I’ve got to start off by thanking Tony for letting my fly on his jet here to the races,” he said. “Without him, I wouldn’t be here.”

The win was Larson’s third in as many seasons as he heads back to Fontana, Calif., for Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event in Southern California.

With estimates of more than 10,000 spectators at Friday’s World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event, a pair of California stars duked it out after outlasting the attrition. There were nearly a dozen flips on the new 3/8-mile track that was built inside the old horse racing track at the San Joaquin Fairgrounds.

Paul McMahan, who became the ninth different dash winner in as many features this season, led the first two laps of the 30-lap feature before Larson found the lead by winning the drag race into turn one.

Kaeding drove around Larson exiting turn two on a restart on Lap 10 – the third straight attempt after Willie Croft and Jonathan Allard both flipped during previous tries – to capture the lead. The duo entered traffic on Lap 16 before a caution two laps later for a spin by Jason Statler.

Because of track conditions, all restarts were single file during the main event and Kaeding took advantage with the clear track. As he closed in on traffic, however, Larson closed in on the lead. They entered traffic on Lap 25 and on the ensuing lap, Larson was stuck on the bottom behind Statler.

That allowed Kaeding to put several car lengths of distance, which was quickly erased. Two laps later, Kaeding nearly made contact while trying to lap Sam Hafertepe Jr. entering the bottom of turn three. As Kaeding was forced to dramatically slow his car, Larson sailed around the top groove. His momentum allowed him to slip by Kaeding for the lead as they crossed the start-finish line.

Seconds later, Austen Wheatley spun exiting turn four to set up a green-white-checkered finish. While Kaeding tried to throw a pair of slide jobs on Larson for the lead in the final two laps, neither was successful.

“I think the biggest thing was lapped traffic,” Kaeding said. “That kind of cost us the race I think. You’ve got guys that want to just keep racing and not go a lap down, (but) I’ll take a second any night.”

Larson claimed the previous two Gold Cup Race of Champions – held near the end of summer each year at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., where the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series wraps up this weekend on Saturday with the Mini Gold Cup.

“It’s cool to get to race with Tim because he’s by far the best out here in California and he can contend for Outlaws wins no matter where he goes in the country,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun to get to race with Tim and it’s fun to beat him for a win because he’s beat me so many times for wins. It’s good to steal some back from him.”

Donny Schatz charged from 13th to third, earning his third top-five finish of the season.

“We had a good car,” he said. “The thing would go around the top and the bottom in (turns) three and four and the top in (turns) one and two. I just had to go where other guys weren’t. It was pretty treacherous up there; the cushion would hook you and grab you. We made a lot of spots up, but would have liked to been there racing for the win.”

Championship points leader Daryn Pittman was fourth and McMahan ended fifth.

Chad Kemenah placed sixth and 24th-starter Kerry Madsen earned the KSE Hard Charger Award for the fourth time this season after finishing seventh. Steve Kinser was eighth, Stewart ninth and Sammy Swindell rounded out the top 10.

It wasn’t the typical place a race fan would imagine Tim Kaeding was headed after yet another victory.
Visibly exhausted and likely sore, Kaeding mustered a smile and laugh when describing his postrace celebration plans after ending his Victory Lane celebration surrounded by a packed grandstand of his biggest supporters on Friday night at Thunderbowl Raceway.

“Sit in an ice cold bath,” he said.

It was an elbows-up type of night during the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series opener at the high-banked, third-mile oval, which featured more cars on two wheels than a typical motorcycle race.

That fit right into Kaeding’s style and background, even if the track known to be rough was the roughest ever.

“I’m saying this was probably the roughest I’ve ever seen Tulare in (turns) one and two,” he said. “(Rough) is what I grew up on. This is kind of my home away from home. Anything that’s rough is usually what I like. It’s get in, stand on the gas, hold on and see what happens at the end.”

While many people likely picked Kaeding to record the victory – his third overall and second straight at Thunderbowl Raceway with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series – nobody could have predicted the finish.

Donny Schatz outraced polesitter Jac Haudenschild through the opening turns of the first lap to control the top spot, which he maintained for the first 14 laps.

Kaeding, meanwhile, cracked the top five on the second lap. He gained a position in each of the next two laps until sliding Haudenschild for the runner-up position on a restart of Lap 8. Schatz held a several car length advantage until the third caution – and second red flag – of the feature for Cory Eliason’s fiery flip in turn two on Lap 15.

The race was red flagged for approximately 15 minutes as repairs had to be made to the fence. When the race restarted, Schatz found himself in the nasty ruts in turns one and two, which forced his car into the fence and broke the front axel. He was unable to restart and finished 23rd.

That gave the lead to Kaeding, who faced a new challenge from Cody Darrah as the final 21 laps of the race were caution free.

Darrah dove to the bottom in turns one and two to pass Haudenschild for second place on the restart. As Kaeding powered around the track in the high lane, Darrah made the bottom groove work. They entered traffic on Lap 20 and one lap later, Darrah pulled side by side with Kaeding as they exited turn two.

Momentum continued to keep Kaeding in the lead, but Darrah stayed with a couple of car lengths until he used a slide job on Kaeding for the lead entering turn one. Darrah dove to the bottom in turn one and slid up the track in front of Kaeding exiting turn two.

“I knew he was close; I didn’t know how close he was,” Kaeding said. “He did the same thing I did at the beginning of the race to get spots – just to slide. He did the slide for life and it stuck.”

However, Darrah never got his tires back underneath him after taking the lead. As they entered turn three side by side – Darrah on the bottom and Kaeding committed to the top – Darrah closed to the back of Wayne Johnson in traffic. Darrah’s car slowly began to slide around and eventually did a full spin on the bottom in turns three and four before he continued as the white flag waved.

“I never got my tires back under me and I just spun it out,” he said. “It was pretty stupid. I’m pretty pissed off because we (had) such a good car. These guys work so hard and they deserve a win. I gave it to them for about a quarter lap and then I took it away.”

Darrah lost valuable position, but was able to hold off Haudenschild for the runner-up spot with Kaeding winning by nearly five seconds.

“It was a good race all the way around,” Haudenschild said. “Tim, he’s the man here. It was good just to be up there running with him.”

David Gravel finished fourth to record his second top five while driving for the injured Bill Rose. Championship points leader and fast qualifier Daryn Pittman ended fifth for his series-leading fifth time in seven races.

Lucas Wolfe placed sixth, Craig Dollansky seventh, Joey Saldana eighth, 15th-starter Rico Abreu ninth and 16th-starter Kerry Madsen rounded out the top 10.

Pittman Prevails at Wildcat Shootout Presented by NAPA Auto Parts
He becomes the first repeat winner of the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series season
 
TUCSON, Ariz. – March 9, 2013 – You don’t need to be a teacher to give Daryn Pittman a grade at the head of the class.
Heck, he gives himself an A+ so far this season with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series and rightfully so.

Pittman, who won the season opener after accepting an offer to drive for NASCAR star Kasey Kahne during the offseason, became the first repeat winner of the season on Saturday in front of a near capacity crowd at Tucson International Raceway during the Wildcat Shootout Presented by NAPA Auto Parts.

“It’s been an A+ for sure,” he said. “I think all of us are really disappointed in our first night at (Las) Vegas. That was our first humbling experience as a team, but nobody was down. We got messages all night from each other, just stay positive and come back the next day. And we rebounded with a solid night at Vegas the second night.

“This is a tough sport and a grueling year that we know can turn around in a hurry. So we’ve just got to stay focused, go into the next race and try to win.”

It was the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series first race at the 3/8-mile oval since 2007 and the first event in Arizona since 2009. Speaking of history, Pittman’s two wins this season are more than he recorded in the past four years combined. It also helped him to maintain the championship points lead, which he’s held since the season-opening victory.

“Points matter in October and November,” Pittman said. “Right now we’ve just got to win races and go after that, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

However, it could have easily been a sixth different feature winner in as many races this season. Polesitter Joey Saldana, who Pittman replaced at Kasey Kahne Racing, won his first dash of the season and led the first nine laps of the 30-lap feature before a lengthy red flag because Chad Kemenah flipped in turn three.

On the restart, World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series officials deemed that Saldana got on the gas too early and he was penalized one row. That moved Pittman to the lead, which he never relinquished.

“Outlaws races are very hard to win, so if you’re going to lose one you want to lose it racing,” Saldana said. “I don’t know what’s right or wrong. I’m the leader of the race. I don’t know what I did any different.”

Pittman powered to a sizeable advantage and by the time he entered traffic on Lap 18, he led by nearly a straightaway.

In thick traffic, Saldana passed Brian Brown for the runner-up position exiting turn four on lap 25. However, he was unable to make up any ground on Pittman, who empathized with Saldana’s situation.

“Obviously we were the beneficiary of that and it was great, but I would have been ticked if it was me to have the same penalty on us,” Pittman said. “Their job is to make the rules and enforce them. Ours is to push them as far to our advantage as we can to try to get an advantage. He got bit tonight. I’m sure he’s unhappy about it.

“At the end of the day I think we had a great race car. I think we had something for him no matter what. It would have been nice to race for it to see who would have came out on top, but our car was awfully good.”

Saldana’s second-place finish was his second straight podium. Brown picked up his first podium finish of the season in third.

“With the crowd being good enough, hopefully we’ll get to come back here soon,” he said. “The track was in great condition. (It was) probably a little bit too narrow. It made it tough to pass, but when you’re starting in the front you don’t mind that every once in a while.”

Paul McMahan, who established a new track record in qualifying, placed fourth and Tim Kaeding ended with his third consecutive top five.

Donny Schatz was sixth, Danny Lasoski seventh, 16th-starter David Gravel eighth, Kraig Kinser ninth and Cody Darrah rounded out the top 10.

Kerry Madsen rallied from 21st to 12th to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award for the third time in six races this season.

Kaeding a Safe Bet Once Again at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas
Another wild World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series finish caps trip to Nevada
 
LAS VEGAS – March 7, 2013 – There are plenty of Las Vegas puns that can be used to describe Tim Kaeding, but luck doesn’t need to be in any of them.
The guy is just flat out good.

With the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip in the distance, Kaeding celebrated in style after he scored his second straight World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series feature victory at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on Thursday night.

“I think a couple of years ago I lost all my luck at the casinos and it’s paying me back out here at the race track,” he said. “We had a great race car all night long and we did what we had to do, and that was run up front and steal the win from everybody.”

Kaeding roared from his third starting position to the lead on the backstretch of the opening lap with polesitter and Wednesday’s feature winner – Donny Schatz – in close pursuit. By Lap 12, Kaeding had established nearly half a straightaway lead as he entered traffic.

That advantage disappeared in two laps. Kaeding and Schatz raced side by side down the backstretch and into turns three and four on Lap 14. Kaeding stayed on the inside groove as Schatz powered around the top, which gave him enough momentum to take the lead exiting turn four.

As they continued to battle through traffic and with Joey Saldana pressuring Kaeding for the runner-up position, Kaeding had a near-perfect entry in turn one with 10 laps remaining. He slid up in front of Schatz to regain the top spot as they exited turn two.

“It was a hard track to pass on,” Kaeding said. “We snuck by him there. He got stuck on the outside and we kinda got back to the bottom and had some clear track.”

Four laps later, Brady Bacon stopped in turns three and four to bring out the second – and final – caution of the 30-lap feature. Kaeding chose the inside lane on the double-file restart as Schatz’s left front tire went flat during caution.

That gave Kaeding a sizeable advantage on the restart as he rocketed to the lead. Schatz shot down to the bottom groove and struggled, which bogged down that lane.

“It hurt me, actually,” said Saldana, who restarted behind Kaeding on the inside of the second row. “I kinda thought it might help me, him being on the outside. He was smart enough he knew he needed to get down. It just took my groove away and that got Jason a clear run around there.”

That allowed Jason Sides, who restarted fourth, to drive around the outside of Schatz and Saldana for second place. However, he was unable to catch Kaeding, who had an open track without traffic until the checkered flag.

“The cautions kind of plagued us last night; we could have used a caution or two tonight,” Sides said. “But there again, TK was on a good run. We’d like to maybe have another caution to give us a shot at racing with TK off the start.

“I’m happy to run another second place like last night … two top threes both nights and make a little money, maybe offset some of my expenses from Vegas here.”

Saldana finished third to earn his first podium of the season.

“There was a point during the race I thought we had a shot at maybe getting them guys, but it’s just a good, solid effort all night,” he said.

David Gravel, who was racing for injured World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series driver Bill Rose, scored his best finish of the season in fourth place. Kyle Larson rallied from 15th to round out the top five and earn the KSE Hard Charger Award.

Schatz placed sixth, Daryn Pittman seventh, Sam Hafertepe Jr. eighth, Wayne Johnson ninth and fast qualifier Lucas Wolfe was 10th for the second straight night.

Pittman Leads World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Into Arizona
Tucson International Raceway hosts Wildcat Shootout Presented by NAPA on March 9
 
TUCSON, Ariz. – Feb. 26, 2013 – Life is good for Daryn Pittman.
He’s back on the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series – piloting a car for NASCAR star Kasey Kahne – and after the first weekend of competition this season, Pittman is at the top of his game.

After claiming the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment title with a win and a trio of top fives in three Florida races, Pittman is atop the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series standings. And he’s headed to a track where he hasn’t finished outside the top six.

Pittman and the Outlaws will compete in their first race in Arizona since 2009 and first at Tucson International Raceway since 2007 for the Wildcat Shootout Presented by NAPA Auto Parts on Saturday, March 9.

“It was a great way to start the year in Florida, but I think half of that is remembering it’s a long season; a lot of races,” he said. “That was just Florida. We’ve got to keep it going and carry that to Las Vegas and to Tucson.”

In three previous World of Outlaws STP Sprint car Series events at the 3/8-mile track, Pittman has finished fifth twice and sixth in the other race.

“It’s neat because it’s really not that big of a race track, but it’s fast,” he said. “It’s really wide and has really long corners. It’s really kind of unique. For the size of it, it seems like we get around it at half-mile (track) speed.”

By showing a receipt from any NAPA store, fans can receive $5 off their admission of a general admission, reserved or child ticket. Fans who purchased tickets in advance can receive a fan pit pass.

Rose to Miss the Next World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Weekend
Gravel takes over at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas and Tucson International Raceway
 
LAS VEGAS – Feb. 25, 2013 – The old saying goes, if it wasn’t for bad luck, you’d have no luck at all.
Bill Rose probably wouldn’t mind having no luck after injuries have plagued his last three seasons. Rose, who broke his left forearm during an incident on the final lap of his heat race at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., on Feb. 16, will miss the next three World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series events because of the injury.

After a follow-up visit on Monday to a doctor in his home state of Indiana, Rose made the decision to sit out the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series doubleheader at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on Wednesday and Thursday, March 6-7, and at the Wildcat Shootout Presented by NAPA Auto Parts at Tucson International Raceway on Saturday, March 9.

“The biggest bone in my forearm split in half,” Rose said. “My elbow’s all jacked up. My whole bicep is black and blue. (The doctor) wanted me to sit out for six weeks.

“The problem right now is I don’t have any grip strength. I can’t even hold anything with my hand.”

Rose is putting David Gravel in the car for those three races with the option of continuing to compete if Rose doesn’t feel ready to race on March 15-16 at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. Rose, who is wearing a splint over his left arm, had his doctor make a different, specific splint that he can use to race.

“It’s a shame that he got injured again,” Gravel said. “I’m glad he chose me. To be in a World of Outlaws car is definitely huge and hopefully there’s more to come in the future.”

Gravel picked up his lone World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series feature victory at the Talladega Short Track on Oct. 22, 2011. He is currently 17    th in the standings after the opening three races of the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series season.

Gibson Honored with Outstanding Contribution to the Sport Award
Longtime World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series announcer given prestigious honor
 
CONCORD, N.C. – Jan. 14, 2013 – Late last summer amidst an epic championship battle, World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series veteran announcer Johnny Gibson surpassed a unique milestone.
Gibson, who has worked for the premier sprint car series since 1995 and been the series announcer since 1997, attended his 1,500th consecutive World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series race. Take note, that’s not 1,500 overall; it’s 1,500 straight events that Gibson has seen.

This past weekend, the North American Sprint Car Poll recognized Gibson’s tireless efforts by honoring him with the 2012 Outstanding Contribution to the Sport Award, which is the highest honor as voted by industry insiders.

“I’m very honored that there are people in the sport that feel I’ve actually had something to offer,” Gibson said. “It’s really unbelievable to me that I could get to this point from being just a race fan because that’s really all I am. I just get to talk about it.”

Gibson joins a variety of esteemed past recipients, including Kasey Kahne, the late Fred Brownfield, Tony Stewart, Jack Hewitt, Brad Doty, Steve Kinser, the late Don Martin, Earl Baltes and the late World of Outlaws Founder Ted Johnson, among others.

“For Johnny Gibson to earn this award, it speaks to the level of respect that people in our entire industry, nationwide, have for him and his work with the Outlaws,” National Sprint Car Museum executive director Bob Baker said in a statement. “Carlton Reimers, who first handed a microphone to the program-selling western Pennsylvanian in 1995, should feel very proud, as would Carlton’s father-in-law and founder of the WoO sprint car tour, the late Ted Johnson, if he were still with us.”

From being a fan to selling programs at the events, Gibson turned his passion of sprint cars into a career by delivering his signature calls from the time the opportunity was given to him more than 15 years ago.

“Johnny has been our connection to the fans for so many years, and his dedication to the World of Outlaws and sprint car racing is unquestioned,” World Racing Group CEO Brian Carter said. “It’s only fitting he should be in the company as such legends of the sport, and we’re excited for him to be recognized with this well-deserved honor.”

Fans can hear Gibson as the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series kicks off the 2013 season at the 42nd annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment Feb. 12-23 at Volusia Speedway Park near Barberville, Fla.

Schatz Crowned at the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Banquet on Sunday
His fifth championship nets a prize of $150,000 as top four earn more than $325,000
 
CONCORD, N.C. – Nov. 4, 2012 – Donny Schatz was crowned the 2012 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion at the season-ending banquet Sunday evening at the Great Wolf Lodge Convention Center.
He received a check for the $150,000-to-win championship – his fifth since 2006 – at the event, which honored the 11 full-time Outlaws as well as the marketing partners for the World of Outlaws.

“The fact that we ran second a lot and third a lot, and that’s what wins championships – is what you do on the nights when you can’t win,” Schatz said. “This ranks up there as one of the hardest fought ones. We had some of the lowest lows and the highest highs.”

Craig Dollansky finished second in the standings, which was his best result since 2006. Sammy Swindell, who led the series with 13 feature victories, placed third and Joey Saldana ended fourth – his eighth top-five finish since 2002. Steve Kinser, who is a 20-time champion and the winningest driver in the series, garnered his unprecedented 31st top-five result.

Kraig Kinser placed sixth, Cody Darrah seventh, Kerry Madsen eighth, Lucas Wolfe ninth, Chad Kemenah 10th and Bill Rose was 11th in the final standings.

The 2013 season kicks off with the 42nd annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment on Feb. 15 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.

Blaney Beats Attrition at PEAK Motor Oil World Finals Presented by NAPA
Schatz crowned with his fifth World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship
 
CONCORD, N.C. – Nov. 3, 2012 – The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series finished the season with a bang. And a smash. And a clank.
In front of packed grandstands and a television audience on SPEED, Donny Schatz claimed his fifth championship on Saturday evening at the Sixth annual PEAK Motor Oil World of Outlaws World Finals Presented by NAPA Auto Parts. However, Schatz’s season ended in a wreck as he was one of seven drivers who either crashed or sustained an issue while racing in the top 10 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

A night after a flat tire ended his night while competing for the win, Dale Blaney survived the attrition to record his second Outlaws victory of the season.

“The last race of the year, to win down here in front of this crowd and everything, it’s pretty cool,” he said. “We had a little bit of luck … but our car was really good. I’ve got a little bit of talent, but a lot of luck is a lot better.”

Stevie Smith rocketed to the lead on the start with Blaney a close second. On lap seven, Blaney capitalized on a slide job in turn two to take the top spot. The duo then entered traffic on lap 10 before top-10 cars began to be targeted by misfortune near the midpoint of the 30-lap feature.

Sammy Swindell, who earned Friday’s event at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, stopped in turn four because of mechanical issues on lap 14 while running 10    th. Under caution, Daryn Pittman went to the work area with a flat right rear tire, which dropped him from eighth to 24th on the restart.

After Dean Jacobs spun in turn four on the restart to force another caution, Blaney and Dollansky battled side by side with Blaney holding a slight edge. On lap 18, Dollansky’s slide job in turn four was matched with a putback by Blaney, but Dollansky maneuvered to the lead as they entered traffic on the ensuing lap.

The intense action at the front of the pack continued when Schatz and Smith collided as they entered turn three on the bottom in a fight for third place. Schatz spun up the track and came to a stop near the wall. Jac Haudenschild and Cody Darrah – each racing in the top 10 – took evasive action to avoid the stalled car, but to no avail. Haudenschild’s car tipped over after contact and Darrah’s flipped to end his night.

Dollansky’s right rear tire began to go flat during the red flag. He continuously spun the tires during the caution, but the tire exploded entering turn three on the restart. Smith, who restarted third, crashed into the back of Dollansky in turn four and Kerry Madsen was also involved in the incident.

Blaney regained the top spot with Paul McMahan, who started 22nd, in the runner-up position. The duo set a torrid pace before Steve Kinser had a flat tire spin him in turn two with three laps remaining. Dollansky then brought out the final caution when he stopped in turn three on lap 29, setting up a green-white-checkered finish.

Blaney nearly rubbed the wall around the 4/10-mile track with McMahan hitting his narrow marks on the bottom of the dusty track. Blaney and McMahan were almost even as they exited turn four coming to the checkered flag, but Blaney’s momentum allowed him to win by a car length.

“We had a good run on him, got to the inside of him one time getting off of (turn) four and I just wasn’t able to pull it off,” McMahan said after earning the KSE Hard Charger Award. “We gave it our best effort and we passed 20 race cars, so you can’t really complain about that.”

Jason Johnson, who claimed a heat race win each of the past two races, earned his best finish of the season by rounding out the podium.

“You’ve got to be there at the end to produce a finish,” he said. “It was the last race of the year, a lot at stake. Even being on a TV show even adds a little extra, so the main thing is to just make good, smooth laps. There at the end it was survival of the fittest.”

Kraig Kinser placed fourth with 16th-starter Greg Hodnett ending fifth. Brian Brown was sixth, 23rd-starter Jason Sides seventh, Lucas Wolfe eighth, Lance Dewease ninth and David Gravel rounded out the top 10.

While Schatz’s weekend didn’t go as planned, he said his fifth championship – and first since claiming four straight from 2006-09 – was the most special.

“This ranks up there as probably one of the hardest fought ones,” he said. “We had some of the lowest lows and the highest highs. To rebound and dig out of the hole we were in – we raced our way out of it – and that’s what makes it more special than the rest of them.”

Swindell Snags Win at Sixth annual PEAK Motor Oil World Finals Presented by NAPA
His 13th World of Outlaws feature victory secures the winningest driver title this season
 
CONCORD, N.C. – Nov. 2, 2012 – Sammy Swindell rated his feature performance slightly higher than his postrace celebration at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
However, both his late-race pass and postrace donuts in turn four provoked the spectators in the packed grandstands to their feet on a brisk Friday evening at the Sixth annual PEAK Motor Oil World of Outlaws World Finals Presented by NAPA Auto Parts.

Swindell earned his 13th feature victory to wrap up the title as the winningest driver this season on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series when he dove under Brian Brown in turns three and four coming to the white flag. The move allowed Swindell to pull away after the duo battled side by side for the previous two laps.

“I just tried to stay calm and stay patient, just make sure I didn’t overdrive the car, the tires, and that’s what paid off,” Swindell said. “It was all about conserving. There at the end I knew that we were in better shape, so it was just go for it. It took me a little bit to get it accomplished, but all I needed was room to get by.”

The maneuver pumped up Swindell, who concluded the entertainment after a cool-down lap with approximately a half-dozen donuts only a few feet from where he made the race-winning pass. While the fans were thrilled, Swindell said he needed to work on his finish after the engine stalled when he tried to end the celebration.

“I was trying to slow down there and I got slowed down too much, I guess, going up the hill and killed it,” he said. “There’s not too many places where you get a chance to do that so I probably need a little practice.

“Maybe tomorrow night we’ll do it a little bit better.”

The PEAK Motor Oil World Finals Presented by NAPA concludes on Saturday – the front gates open at 3 p.m. with Opening Ceremonies at 4:45 p.m. – after a tough act to follow. Slide jobs and side-by-side racing were the themes to Friday’s program – capped by the dramatic feature.

Polesitter Craig Dollansky powered to the early lead before Cody Darrah brought out a caution on lap five when he stopped in turn two. Dollansky chose the inside lane on the double-file restart, but he faded as the green flag waved. Swindell dove to the inside and Dale Blaney rocketed to the outside as the duo split Dollansky entering turn one.

Blaney edged Swindell as Brown worked his way into the top three following a three-way battle for third with Dollansky and Kraig Kinser after the restart. The leaders entered traffic on lap 15 and Brown, who was running next to the wall, advanced to the runner-up position in turn four.

Mired in thick traffic, Brown capitalized on his momentum to propel him into the lead on the high groove exiting turn four on lap 16. Brown and Blaney swapped the top spot on every straightaway for several laps before the final caution of the race came on lap 25 when Blaney’s right rear tire went flat.

Chasing his first World of Outlaws feature win, Brown chose the inside lane on the double-file restart with six laps remaining. The top three of Brown, Swindell and Kinser quickly separated themselves from the pack by several car lengths on the restart, which set up for a dynamic finish.

Swindell nearly collided with Brown on a couple of occasions as the drivers slowed dramatically to hit their marks on the very bottom in turns three and four. Swindell tried one lane higher on lap 28 and pulled aside Brown at the flagstand. With Kinser in tow, the Swindell and Brown raced side by side through turns one and two and down the backstretch.

“I’d kind of lose them in the turns because I was running so low on the race track,” Kinser said. “It wasn’t where I wanted to be, but I was just trying to go where they weren’t. You never know what can happen – they bump a little bit, kill both of their momentum and I could sneak around. That’s what I was hoping for and it just didn’t work out.”

Swindell was able to get to the bottom in turn three before Brown, which ultimately gave Swindell the lead for good. Kinser also maneuvered by Brown as the white flag was waved, but Brown regained the runner-up position in turn one.

“My tire felt like it just got a little bit low and I just couldn’t turn like I should have and just got beat,” Brown said. “Me and Sammy were just going to wear each other out if we had to, and we came up second.”

Kinser rounded out the podium with Paul McMahan driving from 13th to fourth and Jason Johnson from 12th to fifth. Bryan Sebetto earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after maneuvering from 19th to sixth with Sam Hafertepe Jr., Jac Haudenschild, Daryn Pittman and 20    th-starter Lucas Wolfe rounding out the top 10, respectively.

Points leader Donny Schatz failed to advance to the feature for the first time this season, snapping a streak of 16 races with a top-eight finish.

Sides Captures First World of Outlaws Victory of Season at Spring Classic
Dollansky repeats as Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 champion in afternoon event
 
PEVELY, Mo. – Oct. 13, 2012 – Jason Sides crawled from his sprint car with an exhausted – and thrilled – look on his face.
Reeling from the passing of a close friend earlier this week, Sides carried a heavy heart into Saturday’s World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series doubleheader at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 – the culmination of a pair of rainouts earlier this season.

And after a total 95 green-flag feature laps on the high-banked track on a humid and windy Midwest day, Sides captured the Spring Classic after recording a third-place finish in the Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 presented by Summit Distributing/Coors Light in the afternoon.

“I had Mark Hardee riding with me,” Sides said. “It wasn’t his time to go, but the cancer got him and we hate that. He’ll be with us a lot in our hearts and everything, so hopefully we’ll get us a couple more wins with him riding with us.”

It was Sides’ first World of Outlaws feature win since July 2 of last season and extended his streak of at least one Outlaws victory in the each of the past four years.

“I think it was our given night to win and I’m glad we did,” he said. “We had a win the last few years and (I was) just trying to get us a win. I didn’t want to go winless, but it was coming down to the last couple of races.”

It was anything but a given for Sides, who started the 40-lap main event on the pole. He led the first eight laps before Lucas Wolfe drove around him for the top spot exiting turn four in thick traffic.

Sides eventually faded to sixth place with 10 laps remaining before he began to work his way toward the front. He passed Donny Schatz for fifth place on lap 31 and maneuvered around Kerry Madsen for fourth on lap 33. Sides restarted fourth with six laps remaining and quickly drove into the runner-up position.

“I had to learn to slow down to go faster and hit the bottom,” he said.

Sides and Chad Kemenah, who took the lead from Wolfe on lap 32, were side by side when a caution came out to set up the first of two green-white-checkered finishes. As the leader, Kemenah chose the inside line on the double-file restart and Sides drove by him as the duo exited turn four coming to the white flag.

With victory in sight, the seventh – and final – caution waved. This time Sides chose the inside line and as Kemenah appeared to have fuel issues on the restart, Sides escaped a hectic finish behind him.

With drivers sliding each other and racing wheel to wheel, Kemenah and Wolfe faded from their second and fourth restart positions as they apparently ran out of fuel.

Schatz rallied to record his second runner-up performance of the season and Brian Brown, who lined up sixth on the final restart, rounded out the podium.

“There were times I thought I was going to win it and there were times I thought I was going to run 10th,” Brown said. “Pevely is a really fun track.

“It’s a 120-mile-per-hour chess match. It just didn’t work out tonight, but we’re working really hard to get our first win on this Outlaws deal.”

Madsen finished fourth and Kraig Kinser drove from 13th to his second straight fifth-place result. Greg Wilson was sixth, Wolfe ended seventh and Brad Loyet earned the KSE Hard Charger Award for piloting from 20th to eighth. Kemenah placed ninth and Craig Dollansky rounded out the top 10.

Sides Captures First World of Outlaws Victory of Season at Spring Classic
Dollansky repeats as Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 champion in afternoon event
 
PEVELY, Mo. – Oct. 13, 2012 – Jason Sides crawled from his sprint car with an exhausted – and thrilled – look on his face.
Reeling from the passing of a close friend earlier this week, Sides carried a heavy heart into Saturday’s World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series doubleheader at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 – the culmination of a pair of rainouts earlier this season.

And after a total 95 green-flag feature laps on the high-banked track on a humid and windy Midwest day, Sides captured the Spring Classic after recording a third-place finish in the Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 presented by Summit Distributing/Coors Light in the afternoon.

“I had Mark Hardee riding with me,” Sides said. “It wasn’t his time to go, but the cancer got him and we hate that. He’ll be with us a lot in our hearts and everything, so hopefully we’ll get us a couple more wins with him riding with us.”

It was Sides’ first World of Outlaws feature win since July 2 of last season and extended his streak of at least one Outlaws victory in the each of the past four years.

“I think it was our given night to win and I’m glad we did,” he said. “We had a win the last few years and (I was) just trying to get us a win. I didn’t want to go winless, but it was coming down to the last couple of races.”

It was anything but a given for Sides, who started the 40-lap main event on the pole. He led the first eight laps before Lucas Wolfe drove around him for the top spot exiting turn four in thick traffic.

Sides eventually faded to sixth place with 10 laps remaining before he began to work his way toward the front. He passed Donny Schatz for fifth place on lap 31 and maneuvered around Kerry Madsen for fourth on lap 33. Sides restarted fourth with six laps remaining and quickly drove into the runner-up position.

“I had to learn to slow down to go faster and hit the bottom,” he said.

Sides and Chad Kemenah, who took the lead from Wolfe on lap 32, were side by side when a caution came out to set up the first of two green-white-checkered finishes. As the leader, Kemenah chose the inside line on the double-file restart and Sides drove by him as the duo exited turn four coming to the white flag.

With victory in sight, the seventh – and final – caution waved. This time Sides chose the inside line and as Kemenah appeared to have fuel issues on the restart, Sides escaped a hectic finish behind him.

With drivers sliding each other and racing wheel to wheel, Kemenah and Wolfe faded from their second and fourth restart positions as they apparently ran out of fuel.

Schatz rallied to record his second runner-up performance of the season and Brian Brown, who lined up sixth on the final restart, rounded out the podium.

“There were times I thought I was going to win it and there were times I thought I was going to run 10th,” Brown said. “Pevely is a really fun track.

“It’s a 120-mile-per-hour chess match. It just didn’t work out tonight, but we’re working really hard to get our first win on this Outlaws deal.”

Madsen finished fourth and Kraig Kinser drove from 13th to his second straight fifth-place result. Greg Wilson was sixth, Wolfe ended seventh and Brad Loyet earned the KSE Hard Charger Award for piloting from 20th to eighth. Kemenah placed ninth and Craig Dollansky rounded out the top 10.

Kinser Captures NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week Victory
‘The King’ has won 12 of 35 World of Outlaws races at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park
 
ELBRIDGE, N.Y. – Oct. 6, 2012 – On a frigid Saturday night, Steve Kinser found a familiar, yet distant, place.
Mired in a slump since late July, Kinser braved the chilly and windy weather at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, where he capitalized in traffic to pass polesitter Chad Kemenah and pull away to his fourth World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series win of the season at the NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week XLI event.

It was Kinser’s 12th victory in 35 World of Outlaws events at the fast 5/8-mile and it snapped a 40-race winless streak in points events.

“We’ve been struggling up a storm,” Kinser said. “It just felt good to get out and win a race. We’ve been having some trouble. It’ll make it a lot better ride home, I can tell you that.”

Kinser’s last win was at Dodge City Raceway Park on June 22, when he was in the thick of the World of Outlaws championship race. Since then, Kinser has struggled to find consistency and he entered Saturday fifth in the title chase – 283 points out of the lead.

That mattered little on Saturday, when Kinser qualified seventh quickest and finished second in his heat race to advance to the dash. He then drove from fourth to second to start the 25-lap feature on the outside of Kemenah.

Kemenah rocketed to the lead at initial wave of the green flag and held a sizeable advantage prior to the first caution, when Bobby Breen spun to a stop in turn three on the fifth lap. Kemenah chose the outside lane on the double-file restart and again began to build on his lead before closing in on traffic on lap 11.

However, as Kemenah was about to lap his first car, Kraig Kinser stopped on the frontstretch while battling for a top 10 because a radius rod loosened. Once again, Kemenah chose the outside on the restart and it worked to his advantage.

But this time Steve Kinser stayed within striking distance and as Kemenah entered thick traffic on lap 17, Kinser took advantage. Kemenah slid up the track in turn two and Kinser stuck to the bottom, which provided enough grip to drive by Kemenah down the backstretch.

“I think the bottom down here in (turns) one and two was getting better,” Kemenah said. “When you’re leading sometimes maybe you’re just a sitting duck. It’s just hard to change your lane when you’re out front.”

Kinser distanced himself as World of Outlaws points leader and Tony Stewart Racing teammate Donny Schatz maneuvered around Kemenah for the runner-up position in the closing laps.

“Steve needed that,” Schatz said. “He hasn’t been running well lately, so to come and get a win is definitely a confidence builder for those guys. A 1-2 finish for TSR is great.”

Kerry Madsen finished fourth and David Gravel ended fifth. Joey Saldana was sixth, Craig Dollansky seventh and Sammy Swindell earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after driving from 21st to eighth. Paul McMahan, who claimed the only other World of Outlaws event at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park this season, placed ninth and fast qualifier Daryn Pittman rounded out the top 10.