From Tony Veneziano
Concord, NC — After the closest point race in World of Outlaws history in 2009, the 2010 season is quickly approaching, with just one month remaining until the 39th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park, February 5-7.
Another of the strongest fields in World of Outlaws history is currently being assembled, with all of the drivers in the Top-10 in points last year expected to be back on the road again in 2010. Donny Schatz, the four-time and defending series champion, who won twice last year in the DIRTcar Nationals with the World of Outlaws and also won twice in events with the All Star Circuit of Champions at the half-mile, including a rousing performance that saw him come from the back of the field after a first lap spin to pass every car in the field, begins 2010 chasing his fifth consecutive series title.
Jason Meyers, who won Volusia Speedway Park in 2008 and came within just 19 points of winning his first title last year, returns in 2010 in pursuit of his first title. He has eight career Top-10 finishes at the half-mile including six consecutive in the DIRTcar Nationals.
“This is probably the most excited and ready I have been to get going and get down to Florida,” said Meyers at the end of the 2009 season.
Joey Saldana, who led the series with 20 A-Feature wins and 21 overall victories in 2009, including one in the DIRTcar Nationals in a last lap thriller over Jason Sides, looks for his second career win in the season opener in the Sunshine State. Both of Saldana’s win at Volusia have come via thrilling last lap passes at the half-mile.
Steve Kinser, the 20-time World of Outlaws champion, competed in the series inaugural event at Volusia Speedway Park in 1981 and won at the track for the first time in 2005 during the DIRTcar Nationals.
Jason Sides, who scored two runner-up finishes in the DIRTcar Nationals last season, chases his first win with the World of Outlaws in the season opening event. He has won in the past at Volusia in a sprint car.
Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion, is the winningest driver in a sprint car at the DIRTcar Nationals with 17 career triumphs, including with the series in 2008 at the half-mile. He begins his second full season in 2010 behind the wheel of the No. 6 machine for the Parsons Motorsports team.
Craig Dollansky has won the overall DIRTcar Nationals title in two of the last three seasons. He heads to Florida with the familiar No. 7 adorning his top wing as he begins his first full season driving for the Big Game Motorsports Team. The Minnesota native won at Volusia in 2008 to open that season.
“It absolutely is a tough event,” noted the veteran driver when asked about the Florida DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. “You have drivers from all over the country there, with the World of Outlaws and the All Stars there and you also have cars from Pennsylvania and from California. It’s one of the toughest events of the year. You have to go in there ready, that’s for sure.”
Kraig Kinser finished fourth in the opener and sixth in the finale of the DIRTcar Nationals last season and has four career Top-10 finishes at the track. He will pilot the No.11K for Steve Kinser Racing this coming season.
Jac Haudenschild ran third on the second night of the event in 2009 and has five career Top-10 finishes at Volusia. The 2009 inductee into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame came within one lap of winning at the track in 2006 coming up just a few inches short in a last lap drag race down the front stretch with Joey Saldana.
Lucas Wolfe is expected to return to action with the World of Outlaws in 2010 aboard the No. 5W. The 2008 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year has competed in the DIRTcar Nationals in four of the last five years.
Cody Darrah, who has competed in the DIRTcar Nationals in each of the last three years, will begin his first full season on the road with the World of Outlaws aboard the No. 91 machine for Kasey Kahne Racing as a teammate to Joey Saldana in 2010. Darrah finished seventh in the opener of the DIRTcar Nationals last season and has been quickest in qualifying twice during the season opener.
Brian Ellenberger, the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, will return for his sophomore season with the World of Outlaws beginning at Volusia Speedway Park.
Also back in action with the World of Outlaws in 2010 will be Sam Hafertepe Jr. and Chad Kemenah. Hafertepe finished a very strong fifth on the second night of the 2007 DIRTcar Nationals, while Kemenah won the 2006 season opener at the half-mile.
For tickets to the 39th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park visit: http://www.DIRTcarNationals.com or call the track at 386-985-4402. Every ticket purchased before January 15 will be entered in the “Fan of February” contested presented by Hoseheads.com, with the winner receiving two FREE tickets to the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series portion of the event as well as a free hotel stay during that time. Also each ticket purchased is also a free fan pit pass. Volusia Speedway Park is located on State Road 40, five miles east of Barberville, Florida.