By Tony Veneziano
Concord, NC-February 15, 2010-The World of Outlaws will return to Oklahoma this season for the first time since 2005 on Saturday, April 10 with the series inaugural visit to Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, which is located right near the Oklahoma/Arkansas state line.
The series was scheduled to compete at the high-banked 3/8-mile in 2005, but Mother Nature was victorious in that one. The World of Outlaws debut at Tri-State Speedway will mark the first-ever 410-winged sprint car race at the facility which hosted sprint cars for the first time back in 1977.
“We’re really looking forward to it,” said Danny Womack, co-promoter of Tri-State Speedway. “This will be the biggest event of the year at the track. The World of Outlaws have never been here before so it will be very big and there isn’t anything bigger than the World of Outlaws. It’s going to be a big deal for sure.”
The World of Outlaws debuted in Oklahoma back in 1978 during the series inaugural campaign and competed in the state in 26 of the next 27 years, with 19 drivers scoring A-Feature wins over that time. The list of drivers that have won with the series in Oklahoma reads like a venerable ‘Who’s Who’ of the sport, with 20-time series champion Steve Kinser on top. Other Hall of Famers that have won in the state with the World of Outlaws include: three-time series champion Sammy Swindell, Doug Wolfgang, Ron Shuman, Brad Doty and Jac Haudenschild.
“It’s great to have the World of Outlaws back in Oklahoma,” said Hall of Famer Shane Carson, who resides in Yukon, Oklahoma and is involved in Industry Relations for the World of Outlaws. “It should be an exciting race at a very nice track. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Steve Kinser was victorious in the last World of Outlaws event in the Sooner State back in 2005 at Outlaw Motor Speedway, which is co-owned by Danny Womack. In his legendary career, Kinser has 19 wins with the World of Outlaws in Oklahoma and over 50 Top-10 finishes.
Donny Schatz, the four-time and defending World of Outlaws champion, who is Kinser’s teammate at Tony Stewart Racing was victorious in Oklahoma in 2003 at State Fair Speedway.
Danny Lasoski, who claimed the 2001 World of Outlaws title, has three wins with the series in Oklahoma with the most recent of those coming in 2002.
Other current World of Outlaws drivers that have won in the state include Jac Haudenschild, who has two victories as well as rookie contender Tim Kaeding.
Sam Hafertepe Jr. is the only driver currently competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that has raced at Tri-State Speedway. The native of Sunnyvale, Texas has two starts at the high-banked 3/8-mile in his career.
For more information on the World of Outlaws inaugural event at Tri-State Speedway on Saturday, April 10 visit http://www.tri-statespeedway.com and for more information on the World of Outlaws visit: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com/sprint.
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), Goodyear Tires (Official Tire), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, Jake s Custom Golf Carts, KSE Race Products, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo; Engine Builder’s Challenge participants Don Ott Racing Engines, Kistler Engines, Shaver Specialties and Speedway Engines; and Chassis Builder s Challenge participants J&J Auto Racing, Maxim Racing and XXX Race Company.