Schatz Snags Record Fifth National Open in 50th Edition
Dollansky crashes while leading with 16 laps remaining in the $50,000-to-win event
 
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – Sept. 29, 2012 – As he rolled down the frontstretch toward Victory Lane, his cockpit opening facing the packed grandstands, Donny Schatz issued a slight grin as a chorus of boos echoed around Williams Grove Speedway.
The smile widened on a chilly Saturday as he was showered in confetti for claiming his record fifth National Open in the 50th edition of the famed World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event, which paid $50,000 to win.

“This is huge,” he said. “Pretty awesome to be the only one with five National Open wins. It’s fun to be able to get to Victory Lane at this place.”

It was Schatz’s first World of Outlaws win at Williams Grove Speedway since 2008 and his 12th career Outlaws victory at the half-mile track. It also marked his second win this season in one of the three “big money” races.

While the victories and money are significant, Schatz now holds a 158-point advantage in the World of Outlaws championship race with only five features remaining this season.

“It says a lot about the team,” said Schatz, who also won his sixth $150,000-to-win Goodyear Knoxville Nationals in August. “Earlier in the summer we couldn’t see rock bottom from where we were. We picked ourselves up. We’ve done everything we’ve needed to do. We’ve won the races. We’ve finished second or third when we can’t win the races, and that’s what you’ve got to do to put yourself in a championship position and we’re in a good position right now.”

The title is all but wrapped up after tough luck once again struck Craig Dollansky, who is the runner up in the points race.

Dollansky, who started fifth, inherited the pole when two cars in front of him had issues on the opening lap, which were two of five cautions before the first lap was completed. Dale Blaney, who started on the inside of the second row, stopped on the frontstretch with mechanical issues. Polesitter Cody Darrah was then called for starting too early, moving Dollansky up one more row.

Once Dollansky and the field reached lap two, the race went 24 laps before the sixth – and final – caution. Unfortunately for Dollansky, he was involved when Alan Krimes got sideways in front of Dollansky as he was about to be lapped. While Dollansky was able to restart, he was sent to the back and finished 16th.

Schatz, who briefly led on lap 14 and raced in second for the first half of the event, moved up to the lead. He chose the inside line on the double-file restart and got the jump on Brian Leppo, who slid Schatz for the lead in turn two. Schatz regained the lead off the bottom groove as the drivers exited turn four and never looked back.

Leppo stayed within striking distance for the remainder of the feature before Darrah challenged for the runner-up position in the final two laps.

“It just seemed like when I needed to hit the perfect mark when he would have bobbled I just missed it a little bit,” Leppo said. “To run second at the National Open, it’s just a great feeling. It’s awesome.”

Darrah drove into second place in turn four as the drivers faced the white flag before Leppo regained the position on the frontstretch. Darrah finished third to record his 22nd top five of the season.

“This is a tough place to get around when you’re up behind somebody,” he said. “(I) had good starts, we had three or four of them and then (I) jumped the start trying to get every edge we could. If you don’t have a good start it’s really hard to make it and keep the lead through (turns) one and two here.”

Daryn Pittman earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after driving from 17th to fourth and Paul McMahan maneuvered from 13th to fifth. Stevie Smith was sixth, Lucas Wolfe seventh, Lance Dewease eighth, Sam Hafertepe Jr. ninth and Greg Hodnett rebounded from an opening-lap crash to round out the top 10.

McMahan Tops Opening Night of 50th annual National Open
Hodnett second for his fourth podium in as many Outlaws races at Williams Grove
 
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – Sept. 28, 2012 – Paul McMahan is not an Outlaw, nor is he Posse.
“I’m just a kid from California making a living,” he said.

McMahan did just that on a cool Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway, where he claimed the opening night of the 50th annual National Open. The victory was his second World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series win of the season and sends him into Saturday’s $50,000-to-win event as a favorite.

“It’s just a phenomenal night for me,” he said. “To win at Williams Grove is the coolest thing ever.”

While McMahan was strong from the first lap, polesitter Kerry Madsen was the driver to beat. Madsen powered to the lead with McMahan working from fourth to second before the backstretch on lap two.

Stevie Smith passed McMahan for the runner-up position in turn four on lap seven before they entered traffic on lap 11. One lap later, McMahan returned the pass with a slide job for second place in turn four. Greg Hodnett maneuvered past Smith for third place on the ensuing lap.

With Madsen in control, McMahan and Hodnett appeared to touch as they exited turn two on lap 15 in a tight battle for second. McMahan maintained the position as Hodnett swerved toward the inside guard rail.

The only caution came on lap 17 as Doug Esh stopped in turn three, setting up a double-file restart with nine laps remaining. Madsen chose the inside lane and was soon engulfed by McMahan and Hodnett in a three-way battle for the lead.

As the trio exited turn two, the drivers were three-wide with McMahan’s momentum propelling him into the lead down the backstretch.

“I made a mistake,” Madsen said. “I was running a line in (turns) one and two and I should have adjusted the exit. I think if I would have adjusted the exit we might have had a chance.

“Paul was probably a better car there at the end anyway, but maybe if I’d done the right things we could have held on.”

Hodnett drove by Madsen for the runner-up position two laps later and set his sights on McMahan, who had built a sizeable advantage. Hodnett chipped away at the lead and McMahan encountered traffic in turns three and four on the final lap, which allowed Hodnett to close within a car length at the checkered flag.

“We just needed a little bit more or track position would have helped a great deal,” Hodnett said. “Lapped cars slowed him down so it made me look faster. It was nothing special. It might have looked good, but he got caught up in traffic is the only reason we caught him.”

Hodnett became the only driver to record a podium finish in each of the four World of Outlaws races at Williams Grove Speedway this season.

Tim Shaffer finished fourth and Lucas Wolfe ended fifth. Smith was sixth, Kraig Kinser seventh and World of Outlaws points leader Donny Schatz placed eighth, which snapped his top-five streak at 11 races. Steve Kinser charged from 20th to ninth and Jac Haudenschild rounded out the top 10.

Danny Dietrich, who started last – 26th – while utilizing a track provisional, earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after finishing 13th .

Blaney Survives Weather, Attrition to Claim Commonwealth Clash
Schatz garners runner-up honors to extend Outlaws championship lead to 114 points
 
SARVER, Pa. – Sept. 22, 2012 – Patience was key on a late, chilly and wet Saturday night at Lernerville Speedway.
Following a lengthy delay to the Commonwealth Clash, in which the program had to restart after weather postponed the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event during qualifying, a patient Dale Blaney was credited with his first Outlaws victory of the season as attrition took its toll on the frontrunners.

While the strength of the storm ceased around 8:10 p.m., it rained off and on for more than an hour. The first car back on the track occurred at 10:28 p.m. with the first car out for qualifying at 11:30 p.m. The green flag for the feature was waved at 1:20 a.m.

Swindell Commands NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Showdown at Eagle
Schatz continues World of Outlaws championship lead with 10th straight top five
 
EAGLE, Neb. – Sept. 19, 2012 – Sammy Swindell leads the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series in feature victories. He leads in heat race wins and in bonus points via qualifying.
Unfortunately for the three-time champion, he has faced a myriad of issues throughout the season and has come up against a hot streak by Donny Schatz as the campaign winds down.

On Wednesday, Swindell did everything he could to cut into the championship points deficit by earning qualifying points, winning his heat and leading all 40 laps to claim the NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Showdown in the Outlaws first event at Eagle Raceway since 2009.

“After Knoxville we just kinda put an effort into just going for it and that’s what we were doing,” he said. “We’ve had a few problems that we’ve had to work around with some stuff, some pieces. We’re back on track here now. Hopefully we can get through the rest of the year clean and we’ll just see where the points lay.”

It was Swindell’s 12th feature win of the season – his most since 1997, which is the last time he claimed the World of Outlaws championship.

Yet Schatz wasn’t far behind. While his streak of five consecutive top-two finishes was snapped, Schatz’s third-place result marked his 10th straight top five and 19th in the last 21 points races. He maintains a 94-point advantage over Craig Dollansky and a 117-point edge over Swindell with nine features remaining this season.

“I just could never get rolling right; Sammy rolled best,” Schatz said. “To start sixth and run third, no one is complaining here. You’re not going to win every night.”

Cody Darrah was the only driver who gave Swindell a challenge and that was short lived. Swindell, who started on the pole, rocketed to the early lead with Darrah maneuvering from fifth to second on the opening lap.

With Schatz advancing to third by lap six, Darrah began to reel in Swindell. The duo entered traffic on lap seven and Darrah closed to the rear bumper before the first caution came out for Joey Saldana, who stopped in turn two on lap 13.

Swindell chose the inside line on the double-file restart and edged Darrah until the second – and final – caution came out for Terry McCarl stopping on the backstretch on lap 17.

“That last restart I kinda got through (turns) one and two not as well as I did the last two starts and he got away from me,” Darrah said. “We got into lapped traffic and I couldn’t really move around as we could earlier in the race. Our car was pretty tight and as the track progressed it slicked off in spots, which didn’t allow me to overcome and throw my car like it was in the beginning of the race. Definitely hard fought for second place.”

Swindell capitalized and as the final 24 laps were caution-free, he picked his way through traffic to perfection en route to his third career win at Eagle Raceway. He won the first career World of Outlaws event in 1981 and also in 1992.

“It was a hard race; it was tough,” Swindell said. “We’ve got a new car and everything is going great here tonight. Hopefully we can keep going with this momentum here.”

Dollansky finished fourth and Kerry Madsen earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after driving from 11th to fifth. Kraig Kinser ended sixth, Danny Lasoski seventh, Mark Dobmeier eighth, Ian Madsen ninth and Steve Kinser rounded out the top 10.

Schatz Takes Advantage in Traffic for 10th World of Outlaws Triumph
The 6th annual Arnold Motor Supply Shootout win gives him a 101-point title lead
 
SPENCER, Iowa – Sept. 14, 2012 – Sometimes a little luck goes a long way.
For Donny Schatz, everything is going the right way. Schatz overcame a poor qualifying performance to capitalize in traffic on Friday at Clay County Fair Speedway, where he claimed his third trophy at the 6th annual Arnold Motor Supply Shootout.

It was his 10th World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature victory of the season and eighth consecutive top five, which helped extend his championship points advantage to a season-high 101 points.

“I hope it’s not the peak,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of racing left this year. There’s a long way to go. There’s a lot of season left and we’re doing really good right now, so we want to keep ourself on a roll.”

Schatz, who won the event in 2007 and 2008, began the night by qualifying 18th. He missed the inversion in the heat race, but caught a couple of breaks after starting on the inside of the third row.

Terry McCarl, who started one row in front of Schatz, was involved in an opening-lap crash. That moved Schatz up one row and after polesitter Scott Winters was called for starting too early, Schatz again advanced one row to take the green flag on the pole.

He finished second in his heat race, which gave him a spot in the dash. Schatz passed three cars in the dash and continued to move forward at the start of the feature.

Schatz quickly advanced into the top five while Lucas Wolfe jumped to the early lead from the pole. Craig Dollansky, who entered the event 72 points behind Schatz in the championship chase, had the quickest car early and he rode the cushion to the lead as he exited turn four on the sixth lap.

Traffic came into the equation two laps later and Wolfe was able to maneuver to the lead while Dollansky was slowed on the bottom in turn four. However, Dollansky regained the top spot on the ensuing lap and was in control until traffic claimed its first victim.

Jody Rosenboom spun in turn four on lap 17 as Dollansky was about to put him a lap down. Dollansky swerved to the top and tried to sneak between Rosenboom’s stalling car and the wall, but he ended up smashed between.

Dollansky gave up the lead during the caution as he headed to the work area to fix the damage. Wolfe inherited the lead and following a failed restart when Kerry Madsen flipped off the track in turn two, Schatz advanced past Jason Sides for the runner-up position on lap 19.

Wolfe reached traffic on lap 25 and while Schatz closed the gap, Wolfe maintained the lead as he picked off a handful of cars. But on lap 29, traffic took its second victim. Wolfe was trapped on the bottom behind Chuck McGillivray and Davey Heskin, who were both already a lap down and were battling for 19    th place.

“I just made a mistake going to the bottom and followed two lapped cars that were having their own race,” Wolfe said. “They both kind of missed the bottom and slowed down just enough that I had to wait on them in the corner.

“It was disappointing to lose so close to the end. Obviously it’s hard enough to get in that position and make it the whole night there, to lose it on the last two laps. But it’s hard to complain when Schatz beats you. They’ve been on a roll lately.”

Schatz took advantage and pulled even as they exited turn two. His momentum carried him into the lead in turn three and Wolfe was unable to close within a car length on the final lap.

“He got caught in the wrong part of the race track and I was in the right,” said Schatz, who has recorded seven wins and 17 top fives in the last 19 points races. “I managed to squeak on by there and didn’t have much race left from there.”

Steve Kinser made a late rally to round out the podium, earning his 25th top five of the season.

“I found me a little different spot than everybody else was running,” he said. “Actually it was just through the middle. I just started momentuming the middle and got pretty fast actually.”

Sides finished fourth and Cody Darrah drove from 11th to fifth. Joey Saldana charged from 14th to sixth, Jac Haudenschild placed seventh and Chad Kemenah earned the KSE Hard Charger Award for advancing from 20th to eighth. Justin Henderson ended ninth and Kaley Gharst rounded out the top 10.

Kaeding Claims Antioch Thriller With Last-Lap Slider on Schatz
Schatz’s seventh straight top five pushes his Outlaws championship lead to 72 points
 
ANTIOCH, Calif. – Sept. 10, 2012 – Looking for some good entertainment? Just watch Tim Kaeding.
In perhaps the pass of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series season, Kaeding slid championship points leader Donny Schatz in turn four on the final lap to earn his fourth Outlaws win of the season on Monday at Antioch Speedway. The packed grandstands erupted for the San Jose native, who reciprocated the affection.

He egged them on by popping a wheelie down the frontstretch after taking the checkered flag. And if his last-lap pass and wheelie weren’t enough, Kaeding was as entertaining in his postrace interview.

“Truthfully, it was a slide for life,” Kaeding said. “I was either going to wear me out, him out or both of us at the same time. It was no holds barred, short track racing. This is what I love about it. It’s always fun and exciting, especially for the fans.”

While Kaeding crossed the finish line first, fellow Californian Jonathan Allard had the car to beat. After a red flag on the opening lap for a four-car pileup in turn one, Allard powered to the lead on the start with Schatz, who started on the pole, a close second.

The duo entered traffic on lap five and while Allard never pulled away, he maintained a couple of car lengths on Schatz until a caution with 10 laps remaining for Kenny Allen stopping on the frontstretch. Things continued to heat up on the restart as Rico Abreu hit the wall in turn four, tipped on his side and somehow managed to keep going as the red flag waved.

Once the race resumed, Allard again entered traffic on lap 27 and held a sizeable advantage as he was coming to the white flag when Craig Dollansky spun out in turn two. That forced a green-white-checkered finish, which turned out to be wild.

Allard, who chose the outside on the double-file restart, spun his tires and Schatz rocketed to the lead. Kaeding was in tow and slid by Allard entering turn one.

“I thought we had it,” Allard said. “I knew the restart would be tough because the track was starting to go away. I tried to pick the right lane.

“I started to actually roll the throttle on and it got a bit tight. (I) tried to drive back around them and it spun the tire and (Schatz) took off.”

Kaeding dove to the inside in turn three, but was unable to make a move on Schatz as they took the white flag. Kaeding followed Schatz around the high side exiting turn two and as Schatz ran the cushion in turn three, Kaeding dove to the bottom and executed a perfect slide job as they raced through turn four.

Kaeding slammed against the cushion and he drove across the track to edge Schatz by a little more than two tenths of a second.

“We KOed the curb and I drove straight down the race track so nobody could get back by me,” Kaeding said.

Schatz, who recorded his seventh straight top-five finish, said he was surprised by the slide job.

“I just overdrove the car,” he said. “TK got a big run and slid me going into (turn) three and surprised me. I just made a couple of mistakes there at the end. Just me overdriving the car.”

Allard finished third and to make matters worse, he flipped in turn four on the cool-down lap.

“They said green-white-checkered on the thing, but I didn’t really know what the lap count was,” he said. “I saw Tim run it down the straightaway and I thought, ‘Well, maybe there’s something going on.’ I ran it down in there and just lost control. So just a bad move on my part.”

Cody Darrah placed fourth and Lucas Wolfe ended fifth. Sammy Swindell was sixth, Kerry Madsen seventh, Joey Saldana eighth and Steve Kinser earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after driving from 17th to ninth. Kraig Kinser rounded out the top 10.

Schatz Sails to Ninth World of Outlaws Win at Scenic Calistoga
The four-time champion now leads the points race by a season-high 50 points
 
CALISTOGA, Calif. – Sept. 9, 2012 – It shouldn’t be a surprise that Donny Schatz parked in Victory Lane on Sunday at Calistoga Speedway.
Schatz continued his recent tear in dominating fashion, leading all 25 laps to record his ninth World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series win of the season and his second at the scenic half mile.

The victory was the latest highlight in a hot streak that dates back to late July. Schatz has recorded six wins and 15 top fives in the last 17 points races, including a current streak of six consecutive top-five finishes.

The success has also built a 50-point advantage in the championship standings, which is the largest difference between first place and second all season.

“We’re on attack mode,” Schatz said. “These guys definitely got their game face on. They’ve got an awesome machine behind me and we’ve got our motors running really good, so we’re happy.”

Schatz drove around polesitter Kerry Madsen as the duo exited turn two on the opening lap only to see a caution for Chad Kemenah, who came to a stop in turn two. As the caution flag was waved, Jonathan Allard flipped in turn four to cause a red flag.

Schatz left little room for error on the complete restart. He rocketed to the lead by the time the drivers reached the flag stand and began to pull away.

“It was very critical,” Madsen said. “I’m not saying we would have won the race if we got the (lead on the) start, but it would have helped.”

Traffic came into play on lap four, but it didn’t help Madsen close the gap. On lap 13, something on the right front of Cody Lamar’s car broke and it sent him into the exit gate between turn four and the frontstretch. The impact shot his car back across the track in front of Schatz and Madsen, who were able to avoid the melee.

“Man, that was close,” Madsen said. “He sped across there like a NASCAR wreck. I’m just glad he’s alright. That was a hard hit.”

The gate was badly damaged and required more than a half hour of maintenance before the feature resumed. However, once it did, Schatz was hardly challenged as he cruised to his second win in the last four races.

Madsen held off fast qualifier Sammy Swindell for the runner-up position.

“Every time I’d try to get close down there I’d kind of lose the front and get up on that curb, and I’d lose way more than I’d ever gained,” Swindell said. “I think I could run faster out there by myself because I could back up and catch them. So I know the car was fast, but (the track was) just one lane and nothing else to do.”

Tim Kaeding ended fourth and Joey Saldana placed fifth. Craig Dollansky was sixth, Steve Kinser seventh, Shane Stewart eighth, Kraig Kinser ninth and Cody Darrah rounded out the top 10.

Kyle Hirst drove from 19th to 12th to earn his second consecutive KSE Hard Charger Award.

Becker Golden on Night 2 of the Gold Cup Race of Champions
The Californian nabs his first career World of Outlaws victory at Silver Dollar Speedway
 
CHICO, Calif. – Sept. 7, 2012 – As he climbed out of his sprint car and listened to the roar of the crowd, Sean Becker raised his hands in the air and let out a half yell.

With confetti raining down on Victory Lane, Becker was emotional and seemingly stunned after he recorded his first career World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature victory Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway.

The win came on the second night of the 59th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions and it helped lock him into Saturday’s $20,000-to-win feature.

“I grew up watching my dad race at this track in the late ’80s, early ’90s,” Becker said. “(I) grew up watching Sammy Swindell, Steve Kinser, all these guys. It’s a huge accomplishment for me. There’s no greater moment right now.”

While Becker nabbed the win it came at the expense of fellow Californian Kyle Larson, who led the first 19 laps before his right rear tire went flat during a red flag with 11 laps remaining. Larson repeatedly spun his rear tires during the caution laps in an effort to create more air, but he was doomed from the restart.

Becker powered by Larson at the flag stand to complete lap 20 only to see Larson slide back into the lead entering turns three and four. However, Becker again rocketed off the bottom of turn four to gain the top spot at the finish line before Craig Dollansky continued his rough weekend by spinning in turn four to cause a caution on lap 21.

Dollansky, who was running seventh on the previous restart, had to rejoin the field in 16th. He later finished 13th, which dropped him 35 points behind Donny Schatz in the World of Outlaws championship battle.

Larson continued to struggle with the flat tire as Tim Kaeding drove into second place on lap 23 and Joey Saldana passed Larson for third on lap 24. Larson lost several more positions before the tire gave out on lap 29. He ended up finishing 14th.

Becker outlasted a couple of late cautions to cruise to the victory, although it was much easier said than done.

“It was just gut wrenching,” Becker said. “I knew if I held my line on the top, I knew it was going to leave an opening for them to pull some slide jobs on me. So I just wanted to make sure I got a good, clean restart and hooked up off the bottom and just railed around the top. I jumped the cushion a few times during that race so I was tiptoeing it in there quite a few times, but to finally be able to do it is just huge for me.”

Kaeding, a fellow Californian, finished second to earn his second consecutive podium.

“We moved up one spot from last night and hopefully tomorrow we can move up one more,” he said. “California guys have struggled here the last few years, so hopefully we can keep everything rolling and keep the California guys up in the front and having fun these next couple of days out here with the Outlaws.”

Saldana rebounded from an early miscue to earn third place, which was his 21st top five of the season.

“On that restart I just totally screwed up, hit that infield tire and hit the second one so I should have took myself out,” he said. “Just driver error. We’ve been struggling with our car, so when you finally get a good car it’s pretty frustrating when the driver screws up. But it was definitely my fault tonight, so hopefully (we will) come back tomorrow and be a little better.”

Schatz placed fourth to pad his championship advantage and Sammy Swindell finished fifth. Jason Sides was sixth, Jonathan Allard seventh, Jac Haudenschild eighth, Kraig Kinser ninth and Lucas Wolfe rounded out the top 10.

Kyle Hirst powered from last – 24th – to finish 11th, which earned him the KSE Hard Charger Award.

Schatz Survives Opening Night at Gold Cup Race of Champions
Dollansky and Swindell endure issues to slow World of Outlaws championship hopes
 
CHICO, Calif. – Sept. 6, 2012 – Well, that just shook up the points.

A pair of drivers in contention for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship took a major hit on Thursday while a four-time champion survived a treacherous track on the opening night of the 59th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway.

Donny Schatz slid by polesitter Kyle Larson exiting turn two on lap 20 en route to his eighth World of Outlaws victory of the season. The win, combined with some misfortune to a couple of fellow championship contenders, moved Schatz into the points lead for the first time in the last 21 races.

“It was fun,” he said. “(Larson) was really good on the top and we had a decent car on the bottom. It just was really tricky to run. It took me five or six laps to figure out how to drive it. It was a fun race and I’m glad to come out on the good side of it.”

Two drivers in search of that same title found bitter results.

Craig Dollansky, who entered the event with the points lead after 16 consecutive top-10 finishes, spun out after contact during a restart on lap 17. Dollansky, who had restarted eighth, headed to the work area to have everything checked out only to be left there. Since the race was past the halfway point, he didn’t get the guaranteed two minutes.

Dollansky later returned after a caution, but raced two laps down and finished 20th. He is 12 points behind Schatz in the championship chase.

Sammy Swindell, who entered the event third in points, was set to capitalize on Dollansky’s bad luck. Swindell ran in the top three for most of the feature until a last-lap miscue stopped him on the frontstretch – only a handful of feet from crossing the finish line.

While Swindell was chasing down Larson in traffic for the runner-up position, Swindell dove to the bottom in the final turn. It appeared that he clipped the infield tire, which knocked his car up the track and into the frontstretch wall. He could only watch as all of the remaining cars on the lead lap drove by. Swindell was credited with an 18th-place finish, which dropped him to 74 points behind Schatz in the championship battle.

In front of the tough luck was a great clash between Schatz and Larson, who traded slide jobs at least a half dozen times.

Larson led the first 10 laps before Schatz took the lead exiting turn four on lap 11. The duo slid each other in nearly every end of the track for two laps with Schatz having the advantage at the finish line before Larson held onto the lead on lap 13.

After the sixth – and final – caution of the race came on lap 20 when Kerry Madsen stopped on the frontstretch, Schatz got the opportunity he needed. On the lap after the restart, Larson got into the demanding cushion and Schatz slid off the bottom in turn two just in front of Larson.

Larson nearly jumped the cushion the ensuing two laps, which let Swindell close to within a couple of car lengths. Schatz entered traffic on lap 29, allowing Larson and Swindell to rapidly gain ground.

“I had to take about five laps just to settle down,” Larson said. “He got about a straightaway out there and then I just started trying to run the heck out of it. I caught him there coming to the white (flag) and got close coming to the line.”

As Schatz was dramatically slowed on the bottom, Larson powered to the cushion and Swindell to the very bottom of the inside groove. Schatz held off the late charges with Larson bouncing off the cushion and Swindell facing his own disaster.

“We just cruised around and watched and watched Sammy hit the tractor tire there at the end and stick it in the fence,” said Tim Kaeding, who finished third after avoiding Swindell’s damaged car. “He was about eight feet short. I’ve been there several times.”

Jason Sides placed fourth and Sean Becker was fifth. Bill Rose ended sixth and Steve Kinser earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after maneuvering from 22    nd to seventh. Shane Golobic finished eighth, 21st starter Joey Saldana ninth and Lucas Wolfe rounded out the top 10.

Madsen Claims Inaugural World of Outlaws Race at Willamette Speedway
He leads all 30 laps for his second victory in the last three races and fifth this season
 
LEBANON, Ore. – Sept. 3, 2012 – Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, Oi, Oi!
For the second time in the last three World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events, Australian Kerry Madsen emerged in Victory Lane with a big smile on his face. On Monday, Madsen led all 30 laps to claim the inaugural Outlaws race at Willamette Speedway.

“We’re definitely clicking and we’re taking advantage of our opportunities,” he said. “We’ve had some great draws. It looks easy when guys do that, but it’s hard. You have to have everything right and get the opportunity, and then when the opportunity presents itself you have to seize it. It’s hard to do with the World of Outlaws.”

In the only World of Outlaws event this season in Oregon, Madsen outlasted Donny Schatz in a race that featured only two cautions, tough traffic and one angry Sammy Swindell.

After driving around polesitter Jonathan Allard for the lead to complete the first lap, Madsen entered traffic as he exited turn two on the sixth lap. However, by the time he was in turn three, the red flag was out following a collision between Allard and Swindell.

Battling for the runner-up position as they were going down the backstretch, Allard moved up the track and ran into Swindell’s left front tire. It buckled and dug into the track, which forced a series of violent flips for Swindell.

“I was behind Kerry and didn’t know Sammy was on the top,” Allard said. “I went to go around the top because Kerry dropped to the bottom. (A) lapped car was in the middle. I made a move down the straightaway to go to the top to get some more speed up and Sammy was there.”

While Swindell escaped the crash without injury, he was less than pleased and showed his frustration in what ended with a loud thud.

“He hit me with a rock when I was rolling around after that red (flag) right in the head, so a pretty poor sport,” Allard said.

Madsen and Allard continued to run in the top two spots and they entered traffic on lap 12. However, Brenton Nugent’s spin in turn three on the ensuing lap brought out the final caution of the race.

Schatz shot to second on the restart and Joey Saldana advanced from seventh to fourth in the first two turns. Traffic again began to play a role at lap 19 and Schatz chipped away at Madsen’s advantage.

“We just wore the race track out on the bottom and it was too fast on the top,” Schatz said. “I tried the bottom and it was so hard to do you couldn’t really stick down there. It was just a narrow strip. It was just so good on the cushion.”

Madsen was able to hold off Schatz in the closing laps and a slide job in turn three to lap Henry Van Dam on the final lap was enough to secure Madsen’s fifth victory of the season.

“When you know the World of Outlaws are behind you, you’ve just got to be on your game the whole way,” Madsen said. “Mentally, they’re tough races to win. To bring it home is fantastic.”

Tim Kaeding passed Saldana for fourth place on lap 22 and Saldana held off Chad Kemenah for fifth. World of Outlaws points leader Craig Dollansky placed seventh, Cody Darrah ended eighth, Jac Haudenschild was ninth and Steve Kinser rounded out the top 10.

Trey Starks earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after piloting from 20th to 12th. Swindell was credited with a 22nd-place result and Kraig Kinser, who ended in the wall in turn three on the final lap, finished 14th after running in the top 10 most of the feature.

acobson Wins One for the Locals at Rowdy Skagit Speedway
He leads all 35 laps to claim his first career World of Outlaws feature victory
 
ALGER, Wash. – Sept. 1, 2012 – As confetti littered the frontstretch and the crowd roared, hugs and high fives were distributed around a grinning Travis Jacobson like he just won the Showcase Showdown on “The Price is Right.”
In a way, he did.

Jacobson led all 35 laps to claim the $12,000 prize in his first career World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature victory on a brisk Saturday night at Skagit Speedway, where the wild celebration began once the Lake Stevens, Wash., native crossed beneath the checkered flags.

“I’m just in awe,” he said wearing an ear-to-earn smile. “I grew up watching guys like Sammy Swindell and Steve Kinser. To be able to compete with those guys is more than a dream come true. Racing has been my passion since I could turn a car, so it’s very, very special to me.”

Jacobson has established a successful career at Skagit Speedway. He’s won the last three 360 Nationals titles and earned the 360 track championship last season. Jacobson also recorded the 410 track title in 2006.

However, prior to Saturday, Jacobson had never logged a top five in World of Outlaws action. That all changed in front of a packed facility, which became louder and louder as the laps clicked off the scoreboard.

Jacobson, who started the feature third, inherited the lead after polesitter Kerry Madsen was called for starting the race too early. The penalty forced Madsen back one row, which put Jacobson on the pole. He seized the opportunity by rocketing to the lead on the restart of the opening lap.

“That was definitely a big break,” he said. “I hadn’t had a chance to run behind anybody yet, so I don’t know how the dirty air would have affected us. It’s always better to be out front. I want to say I would have been able to do just as good, but you never know.”

Madsen maintained a close second until Donny Schatz drove around him exiting turn four on lap 12. Schatz then set his sights on Jacobson, who entered traffic on lap 17. Schatz began to close the gap through the traffic and he cut the deficit to a car length before a caution on lap 27.

Jacobson chose the inside lane on the double-file restart and utilized a strong restart to hold onto a car-length advantage for several laps until extending it in the final handful of circuits.

“He made 35 great laps and I’m happy for him,” Schatz said after finishing second. “I threw everything I had at it and I had a great car, it was just a second-place car tonight.”

Jason Sides maneuvered through the field to challenge Schatz at the end and ultimately settle for third place.

“I don’t think there was anybody that was going to catch him,” Sides said of Jacobson. “He was running his own race and out front. We’re racing kind of each other. Donny’s trying to catch him. I’m trying to catch Donny. It’s just one of those things where he’s got the open track and can kinda go where he needs to go.”

Madsen finished fourth and Craig Dollansky placed fifth to extend his World of Outlaws championship standings lead to 44 points, which is the largest margin any points leader has held all season.

Cody Darrah ended sixth, Jac Haudenschild seventh, Chad Kemenah eighth, Joey Saldana ninth and Tim Kaeding rounded out the top 10 after starting 17    th to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award.

Madsen Stops Swindell Streak on Night 1 at Skagit Speedway
Attrition takes a toll on top-five cars, including two drivers in the hunt for Outlaws title
 
ALGER, Wash. – Aug. 31, 2012 – Once Kerry Madsen crossed the finish line with the checkered flag waving behind him, it was safe to breathe.
Up to that point, not so much.

Schatz rallied to finish 11th, while Stewart and Kaeding were scored 20th and 24th, respectively, after their early challenges for the win ended with mechanical failures.

Swindell Sails to Win No. 11 with Dominant Performance at Grays Harbor
Dollansky finishes second to maintain World of Outlaws championship points lead
 
ELMA, Wash. – Aug. 29, 2012 – Things are getting back to normal for Sammy Swindell.

He found himself in Victory Lane for the second consecutive World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event and the third time in the last five races on Wednesday night at the scenic Grays Harbor Raceway, which hosted its first Outlaws race since 2008.

It was his series-leading 11th victory of the season and moved him to a tie for second place in the championship standings – only 39 points behind leader Craig Dollansky.

“This is the best we’ve got so hopefully it just carries on through the rest of the year,” said Swindell, who hadn’t won at Grays Harbor Raceway since 1997.

“We did have maybe six, eight weeks there where we weren’t where we needed to be and was struggling some. We found out the reason for that and rectified that, fixed all that stuff and we’re back to where we were at the first part of the year.”

Swindell rocketed to the lead on the opening lap from inside the second row and he then led all 30 laps. In fact, Swindell lapped up to 11th place in a feature that was slowed by four cautions.

And as dominant as Swindell was, Dollansky never settled for the runner-up position. After four cautions during the first half of the event, the final 18 laps were caution free. The duo entered traffic on lap 17.

Dollansky began slowly reeling Swindell in through traffic in the final half-dozen laps before what appeared to be his break with two laps remaining. Swindell was dramatically slowed on the cushion while trying to lap Henry Van Dam. The momentum loss allowed Dollansky to close within a car length.

“I felt like we had a pretty good car in lapped traffic and I would have liked that race to keep going five more laps or so,” Dollansky said.

Swindell maintained his advantage in the closing laps to secure the victory with Joey Saldana edging Donny Schatz for the final spot on the podium.

“It’s a good, solid night,” Saldana said. “To start fourth and finish third, especially with these guys, that’s good. (I) definitely want to get a win so we’ve got to keep digging.”

Steve Kinser finished fifth. Kerry Madsen charged from 11th to sixth and Shane Stewart from 12th to seventh. Cody Darrah placed eighth and Jac Haudenschild earned the KSE Hard Charger Award for driving from 18th to ninth. Chad Kemenah rounded out the top 10.

Swindell Captures Castrol Raceway’s Sixth annual Oil City Cup
Hafertepe Jr. unhappy with late-race pass that nets Swindell his 10th Outlaws win
 
EDMONTON, Alberta – Aug. 25, 2012 – Sam Hafertepe Jr. won’t be inviting Sammy Swindell over for a barbecue any time soon.
The duo nearly touched racing for the lead with two laps remaining on a brisk Saturday evening at Castrol Raceway, where Swindell edged Hafertepe Jr. to claim Night 2 of the Sixth annual Oil City Cup and his 10th World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature win of the season.

Kerry Madsen charged from 15th to eighth, Chad Kemenah ended ninth and Travis Rilat won the KSE Hard Charger Award after maneuvering from 19    th to 10th.

Dollansky Cruises to Oil City Cup Victory at Castrol Raceway
The points leader paces all 30 laps to claim his seventh Outlaws win of the season
 
EDMONTON, Alberta – Aug. 24, 2012 – It took Craig Dollansky a while to reach Victory Lane on a chilly Friday, but it didn’t take him long to start celebrating.
Dollansky released a loud roar as he climbed onto the back of his sprint car after leading all 30 laps on the opening night of the Sixth annual Oil City Cup at Castrol Raceway. It was his seventh World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory of the season and gives him a 35-point advantage in the championship standings.

The Sixth annual Oil City Cup concludes today – Saturday – with the $12,000-to-win feature. The front gate is scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with hot laps around 6:45 p.m.

Schatz Magical in Front of Hometown Fans at Nodak Speedway
The Minot native records his fourth win in the last seven Outlaws points events
 
MINOT, N.D. – Aug. 19, 2012 – After arguably the loudest cheer he has heard all season, Donny Schatz had a rare – and brief – emotional moment in Victory Lane on Sunday.
In front of a packed facility in the town where he grew up, Schatz picked up his first career World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory in the Magic City Showdown Presented by Gerdau, Sleep Inn & Suites, Minot Visitors Bureau and Magic City Implement at Nodak Speedway.

Sammy Swindell finished fifth. Jac Haudenschild earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after piloting from 13th to sixth, Kerry Madsen was seventh, Mark Dobmeier ended eighth, Kraig Kinser placed ninth and Joey Saldana rounded out the top 10.

Swindell Overcomes Kinser, Schatz to Claim Victory at River Cities
He picks up his ninth Outlaws win this season in Round 2 of The Duel in the Dakotas
 
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Aug. 17, 2012 – It was a tale of two obstacles for Sammy Swindell on a perfect Friday evening at River Cities Speedway.
First, outduel 20-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion Steve Kinser for the lead on the racy, action-packed track. Second, outlast the hottest driver of late – Donny Schatz – in challenging traffic.

Kemenah, Darrah, Kinser and Henderson each won a heat race, and Shirek picked up the Last Chance Showdown.

Schatz Shines in World of Outlaws Return to Junction Motor Speedway
Dollansky earns the Kasey Kahne Challenge championship after another top-five finish
 
McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. – Aug. 14, 2012 – Evidently, momentum is a big deal in sprint car racing.
Coming off his sixth Goodyear Knoxville Nationals title in the last seven years last weekend, Donny Schatz whooped most of the field on Tuesday night at Junction Motor Speedway during the fourth-and-final round of the NAPA Auto Parts Kasey Kahne Challenge Presented by Mid-Nebraska Land Developing, A&L Sales & Service and Friesen Chevrolet.

Brown edged Dollansky for fourth place. Stevie Smith finished sixth, Kerry Madsen was seventh, Joey Saldana ended eighth and Kinser placed ninth. Sam Hafertepe Jr. charged from 15th to 10th, earning him the KSE Hard Charger Award.

Schatz Wins Sixth Knoxville Nationals Title in Last Seven Years
Kinser, Swindell both fail to advance to the feature for the first time since 1975
 
KNOXVILLE, Iowa – Aug. 11, 2012 – Wow.
Simply put, the packed Knoxville Raceway grandstands were wowed before the 52nd annual Goodyear Knoxville Nationals feature hit the track on Saturday. Then, the near capacity crowd was on its feet at the checkered flag as Donny Schatz recorded his sixth Nationals victory in the last seven years after outlasting Brian Brown by 0.117 seconds to earn the $150,000 prize.

Larson, who won a preliminary feature and finished 16th in Saturday’s main event, claimed the Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year.

 
Henderson Savors New Friday Format at Goodyear Knoxville Nationals
The Sioux Falls, S.D., native wins the final qualifying night to lock into Saturday’s feature
 
KNOXVILLE, Iowa – Aug. 10, 2012 – Justin Henderson capitalized on a new format to the Friday portion of the 52nd annual Goodyear Knoxville Nationals.
With a new team and a unique opportunity to start from scratch, Henderson took advantage to lock himself into Saturday’s $150,000-to-win main event at the famed Knoxville Raceway after outlasting David Gravel in the final qualifying night.

“I think being able to come on nights like this is a big help,” he said. “It definitely does help for tomorrow night. You get your car that much better and you see what the race track is going to do. I think it’ll be similar tomorrow night.”