From Tony Veneziano
Pevely, MO-August 5, 2010- 55 laps around the high-banked and always racy I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri in the heat of the summer is certainly not for the faint of heart. That is what makes the Second Annual Ironman 55 the most grueling and challenging race of the season on the World of Outlaws circuit, with $20,000 awaiting the winner on Saturday, August 7. The event kicks off on Friday, August 6 with a full racing program.
Joey Saldana was victorious in the inaugural Ironman 55 last season, taking the lead from Craig Dollansky on the 19th lap and pacing the reminder of the 55 laps to score the $20,000 triumph. Following a win this spring at I-55, the current series point leader carries a two-race win streak at Pevely into the Ironman 55 weekend. Saldana leads the series with 10 A-Feature wins this year as he chases his first World of Outlaws title.
Craig Dollansky was victorious in the opener of the Ironman 55 last season before finishing second in the finale after leading the firsts 19 laps. The veteran from Elk River, Minnesota has won a couple of times this season and heads to I-55 Raceway having finished first or second at the track in each of his last four starts there.
Steve Kinser, the 20-time World of Outlaws champion, who was the most recent winner with the series on Tuesday night in New York, has five career wins at I-55 Raceway and well over 20 Top-10 finishes. He leads the series in Top-Five and Top-10 finishes as he chases his record 21st series title.
Jason Meyers, who is currently third in points, has won career win at I-55 Raceway with that coming in 2008. The California native has won seven times in 2010 and is currently third in points as he chases his first title.
Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion, who hails from Dover, Missouri, has one career win at I-55 Raceway with the series, with that coming in 2000. He charged all the way from the 16th starting spot last season to finish third in the finale of the Ironman 55. The veteran has nearly 20 Top-10 finishes with the World of Outlaws at I-55 Raceway over the years.
Kraig Kinser and Chad Kemenah each have a win at I-55 Raceway in their careers, with the latter scoring his first World of Outlaws win at the high-banked bullring.
The Ironman 55 will again be co-sanctioned in 2010 by the World of Outlaws and the All Star Circuit of Champions, with a stout field of drivers from across the country expected to compete both nights with the $20,000 payday awaiting the winner on Saturday, August 7.
The Buzz:
* Joey Saldana has won two in a row at I-55 Raceway including the inaugural Ironman 55 last year. The current series point leader came from 13 th to win at the track this spring, despite having a broken left hand.
* Steve Kinser has five career wins at I-55 Raceway with the World of Outlaws. He finished fifth earlier this season at the track and currently leads the series in Top-Five and Top-10 finishes.
* Craig Dollansky has finished first or second in each of his last four starts, winning the opener of the Ironman weekend last year. He has two career wins at I-55 Raceway.
* Donny Schatz has finished eighth or better in each of his last eight starts at I-55 winning once and finishing on the podium four times in that span.
* Jason Meyers has five consecutive Top-10 finishes at I-55 Raceway including a win in 2008 and a fourth-place performance in the opener of the Ironman last season
* Jason Sides has finished in the Top-Five in each of his last three starts at I-55 Raceway, coming home second and fifth last year in the Ironman and third earlier this season at the high-banked bullring.
* Danny Lasoski, who has one career win with the World of Outlaws at I-55 Raceway, charged all the way from the 16th starting spot to finish third in the finale of the Ironman last season.
* Kraig Kinser, who has one win at I-55 Raceway in his career, finished sixth and ninth in the Ironman weekend last year.
* Chad Kemenah, who won his first career World of Outlaws A-Feature event at I-55 Raceway in 2005, finished ninth at the track back in the spring.
* Ben Gregg, one of the contenders for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this season, made his debut at I-55 Raceway earlier this season racing his way into the main event.
By the Numbers: Ironman 55
0.33- Miles around I-55 Raceway
0.90- Margin of victory for Joey Saldana in the finale of the Ironman 55 last season
1- Driver competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that hails from Missouri- Danny Lasoski
2- Drivers competing for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this season- Ben Gregg & Toni Lutar
3- Races for the World of Outlaws at I-55 Raceway this season
5- Laps led by Joey Saldana earlier this season to win at I-55
8- Drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that have won a feature event this season
9- Drivers currently competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that have won at I-55 Raceway with the series
10- A-Feature wins for Joey Saldana this season to lead the series
10.189- Track record at I-55 Raceway established by Stevie Smith in time trials in 2002
11- Drivers that finished on the lead lap in the finale of the Ironman 55 last season
15- Consecutive years that the World of Outlaws have competed at I-55 Raceway; Points that currently separate Joey Saldana and Steve Kinser at the top of the World of Outlaws standings
16- Starting spot Danny Lasoski came from to finish third last year in the finale of the Ironman; Drivers that have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws in 2010
17- Drivers that have won the dash this season to earn a pole position in a main event
19- Drivers that have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws at I-55 Raceway dating back to 1987
20- Laps led by Craig Dollansky last season to win the opener of the Ironman weekend
26- Drivers that have led laps in feature events this season with the World of Outlaws
30- Top-Five finishes for Steve Kinser this season to lead the series
32- A-Feature events contested by the World of Outlaws at I-55 Raceway dating back to 1987
37- Laps led by Joey Saldana to win the Ironman 55 last season
40- Laps in the main event on Friday, August 6
42- Drivers that competed in the Ironman 55 weekend last year; Top-10 finishes for Steve Kinser through August 3 to lead the series
47- Feature events completed by the World of Outlaws through August 3
55- Laps in the main event on Saturday, August 7
269- Laps led by Joey Saldana this season in A-Feature events to lead the series
926- Miles from Fulton Speedway in New York where the World of Outlaws race on August 3 to I-55 Raceway in Missouri
1987- Year the World of Outlaws first competed at I-55 Raceway
8,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Friday, August 6
20,000- Dollars the winner of the Ironman 55 will receive on Saturday, August 7
208,000- Dollars earned by Steve Kinser through August 3 to lead the series
Tickets: On Friday, August 6 at I-55 Raceway, general admission tickets will be $30, with reserved tickets $32. A two-day ticket package is available for advance purchase for $55 by visiting www.worldofoutlaws.com/tickets or by calling the track at (636) 479-3219.
On Saturday, August 7 at I-55 Raceway, general admission tickets will be $30, with reserved tickets $32. A two-day ticket package is available for advance purchase for $55 by visiting www.worldofoutlaws.com/tickets or by calling the track at (636) 479-3219.