By Shawn Miller
CONCORD, N.C. – May 24, 2012 – Lights. Camera. Action.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series returns to SPEED on Friday night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown. The two-hour broadcast will air beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central.
“It’s a big deal being on live TV,” said championship contender Sammy Swindell, who won the first race at the track in 2000. “It’s a definite plus for our sponsors and even our suppliers.
“For me, I don’t think there’s anything extra there other than you’re trying to not make mistakes. We’re not going to work any harder or try any harder. If there’s anything, it’d be trying not to make a mistake.”
It will be the fifth year in a row with SPEED capturing the action at the semi-banked, 4/10-mile oval. Four-time series champion Donny Schatz has taken advantage of the spotlight. Schatz has claimed six of the 27 World of Outlaws races at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, including three of the last six and the final two to end last season at the Lowes Foods World Finals.
“You’ve got to be in the right place at the right time,” he said. “It’s a tricky race track.
“It’s a place where if you’re not on top of everything and on your game, you can find yourself in the back pretty easy.”
In addition to the live broadcast, the World of Outlaws race starts the action on the compound of Charlotte Motor Speedway. One of NASCAR’s premier events – the Coca-Cola 600 – is two days later at the pavement track a stone throw away from The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
“It’s in NASCAR land,” Kerry Madsen said. “At the World Finals (last year) I led like 20 laps and then kind of faded. I want to go kinda avenge ourselves. I’m excited about going back.”
The broadcast team includes Ralph Sheheen and Brad Doty in the booth with Bobby Gerould and Matt Yocum reporting on all of the action from the pits.
For more, click http://www.CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Armor All (Official Car Care Products), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Goodyear Tires (Official Tire), Gravely Tractors (Official Lawn Equipment), University of Northwestern Ohio, VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), Vicci (Official Apparel); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, JE Pistons, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, KSE Racing Products, MSD Ignitions, Penske Shocks, Superflow Dynos and Wix Filters; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Astro Titanium, ButlerBuilt, Fuel Safe, Intercomp, J&J Auto Racing, Jake’s Carts, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo and TNT Rescue.