Paul McMahan set quick time. (Serena Dalhamer photo)
Paul McMahan. – Image courtesy of R&R Media Group
By T.J. Buffenbarger
Paul McMahan leads the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car point standings going into this weekend at Thunderbowl Raceway. McMahan and the CJB Motorsports team went from possibly running the entire tour at the beginning of 2013 to every night contenders. In a era where most of the top teams have ties to NASCAR drivers, the Clemens family has put together a solid team with veteran crew chief Barry Jackson that can compete with the multiple car teams every night. With six nights of action completed with the World of Outlaws McMahan is the only driver without NASCAR driver backing in the top five of the point standings.
This is not a knock on the teams owned by NASCAR drivers. I think it is wonderful that Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and Kyle Larson all give back to the spot and are fielding top flight open wheel teams and helping many others, some without recognition at all. Having teams that are not owned by NASCAR super stars though running up front is good for the sport and the World of Outlaws in a different way than exposure the NASCAR drivers give the sport with their teams. The spot cannot rely entirely on former sprint car drivers to field teams, and having teams that are competitive without the NASCAR driver backing shows potential team owners they can run up front in the series.
While Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne owned teams have struggled at times in the past, over the past couple of season all five race teams backed by them are more the capable of winning every night on the tour. Going up against car owners like Stewart and Kahne that are household names and can offer their brand and likeness to a potential sponsor must be daunting. Jason Meyers proved with his team gathering the right people and developing a package that works well can win World of Outlaws championships. After Meyers left the tour I wondered who might fill the roll as being a front running non-NASCAR driver owned team. McMahan with CJB Motorsports, the Keneric Group with Kerry Madsen, and others have more than filled this roll.
While I hold a lot of respect for the above mentioned NASCAR drivers I hold special regard to people like the Clemmons family, the Keneric Group, Tod Querying, and others on the tour that field top flight teams without NASCAR driver / team involvement. Hopefully the top of the World of Outlaws point standings sees a mix of
Bryan Clauson during the 2014 Pay Less Little 500. – Bill Miller Photo
Notes…
The 2014 entry list for the Pay Less Little 500 is posted to the Anderson Speedway website and is continually being updates. This year Bobby Santos, III has thrown his hat in the ring to race at Anderson Memorial Day Weekend. With Bryan Clauson entering with Hoffman Auto Racing, and former winner Chris Windom entering with Goacher racing this year’s edition of the Little 500 could be one of the deepest fields in recent years.
With POWRi and the King of the West sprint car series signing television deals with MAV television open wheel fans should have a plethora of open wheel racing to watch if they get the channel. With Indiana Sprint Car Racing via the Dirt 30 and ASCS National Tour action already.
The Hooser Auto Racing Fan Club (HARF) is holding their old timers reunion on March 15th at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds in Columbus, Indiana. The reunion will last from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in the heated community building. Click here for more information.
Look for some news that will shake up the pavement sprint car racing world over the weekend. That topic and others will be discussed during our Great Lakes preview show on Monday night at 8:00 p.m. EST
