Beaver Dam, WI — (June 20, 2016) — The Seventh Annual Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial Presented by Karavan Trailers at Beaver Dam Raceway in Wisconsin is this coming weekend for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series. Last year, four drivers traded the lead in the 40-lap race, with seven-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz, coming from the 10th starting spot to win in one of the most thrilling races of the season. This edition of Quick Hits sets the stage for the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial Presented by Karavan Trailers at Beaver Dam Raceway on Saturday, June 25, which is the series’ first visit of the season to Wisconsin.
Tied for the Top Spot
Daryn Pittman and Joey Saldana have each won three times at Beaver Dam Raceway with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series in their careers, which leads all drivers. Both won for the first time at Beaver Dam Raceway in 2003. Pittman, who set the track record in 2001, which still stands 15 years later, picked up his second win at the track in 2005. The 2013 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion won for the third time at Beaver Dam in 2007. Saldana won his second race at the track in 2010, in the inaugural Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial. The Indiana native repeated the followed year. Saldana was fastest in time trials in the event last year.
Almost Perfect Attendance
Donny Schatz has competed in 21 of the 22 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series races contested at Beaver Dam Raceway over the years. The only event he missed was the Outlaws visit to Beaver Dam in 1996, which was a year before Schatz joined the series full-time. In his career at the third-mile, the North Dakota native has a pair of wins, along with 16 top-10 finishes, of which 11 are top-five performances. Schatz, who won last year at Beaver Dam, was victorious for the first time at the track in 2002.
Instantly Up to Speed
Shane Stewart made his first appearance at Beaver Dam Raceway with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series in 2003 and finished second. He returned in 2004 and finished eighth at the high-banked bullring and was fourth in 2005. After racing at Beaver Dam in 2008, Stewart did not return to the track until last season, when he led the first 11 laps of the 40-lap main event, before finishing fourth. The veteran driver was second-fastest in time trials in his return to Beaver Dam Raceway in 2015.
One Extreme to the Other
Brad Sweet, who won the 2014 Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial in what was one of the gutsiest drivers in World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series history, after a vicious accident the night before, left his car torn in half and him in the hospital with a broken ankle, had more than his fair share of bad luck last year in the race, finishing 22nd. Sweet, who is currently second in points, looks to rebound this year and get back to the form that saw him finish fifth in his debut at the track in 2011, followed by his win in 2014.
Closing In
Paul McMahan has finished sixth or better in each of his last five starts with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Series at Beaver Dam Raceway, as he chases his first win at the track. The veteran driver finished second in 2010 to start the streak and followed that up with a third-place effort in 2011, a fifth in 2013, a sixth in 2014 and another fifth-place run last year. McMahan has made 14 career starts at Beaver Dam Raceway and has eight top-10 finishes, with five of those being top-five showings. The Californian, who now calls the Nashville area home, is in the midst of his first season driving the No. 7 machine for Destiny Motorsports.
Lots of Laps
Jason Sides, who has followed the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series for the better part of the last decade, has eight career top-10 finishes at Beaver Dam Raceway. He finished a career-best second in just his second start at the track in 2003. Sides earned another top-five finish in 2004, coming home fifth at the high-banked, third-mile. Last year, Sides finished eighth in the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial, which was his second top-10 finish in his last three starts in the event.
Warming up to Wisconsin
David Gravel, who hails from Watertown, Connecticut, has picked up top-10 finishes in three of his four starts at Beaver Dam Raceway with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series. He ran seventh last year, which matched his career-best finish at the track, which he also recorded in 2013. Gravel finished eighth in 2014 at Beaver Dam Raceway. The young driver has one win with the series in the state of Wisconsin, with that coming at Wilmot Raceway in 2014.
Chomping at the Bit
The two-car team of Shark Racing is back on the road with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series again in 2016. Last year at Beaver Dam Raceway, Logan Schuchart finished a career-best ninth, while his teammate Jacob Allen was 11th, which was also his best finish at the track. Each of the young drivers has made two appearances in the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial at Beaver Dam Raceway over the last two years. The Shark Racing team they drive for his owned by Hall of Famer Bobby Allen, who was one of the original Outlaws. Schuchart is Allen’s grandson, while Jacob Allen is Bobby Allen’s son.
A Few Items in the Notebook
Greg Wilson, who is contending for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series this season, has raced once at Beaver Dam Raceway in his career. That start came with the Outlaws in 2006, and he finished a solid seventh. The Ohio native, who is visiting numerous tracks for the first time this year, is currently 11th in points and picked up a win at the Dirt Track at Charlotte on Memorial Day weekend. Wilson has also raced in Wisconsin in the past at Wilmot Raceway with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions, a series he is a two-time titlist with.
Adding a Track to the Resume
Jason Johnson, the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, who hails from Eunice, Louisiana, will be making his first trip to Beaver Dam Raceway. Last year, he missed the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial, due to injury, though, his car was in attendance with three-time series champion Sammy Swindell behind the wheel. Swindell finished 10th in the 40-lap event. Johnson, who is a five-time American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) champion, has raced at numerous tracks from coast-to-coast, and Beaver Dam will add another to this ever-growing list.
Another First Time Visitor
Clyde Knipp, who is also a contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this year with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, will be making his Beaver Dam Raceway debut. The 18-year-old, from California, Missouri, just graduated from high school last month. Knipp is embarking on the remainder of the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series schedule, after missing races in the spring, while finishing school.
Advance tickets for the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial Presented by Karavan Trailers for the World of Outlaws on Saturday, June 25 can be purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the race track and on race day.
Discount General Admission tickets are available for purchase at O’Reilly Auto Parts stores. Each General Admission ticket purchased at an O’Reilly Auto Parts location will feature a special $5 discount. Tickets buyers will exchange their O’Reilly receipt for tickets at the Main Grandstand ticket booth on race day.
For more information on tickets, visit slspromotions.ticketforce.com.