By Tony Veneziano
Concord, NC– March 23, 2010–Following a very busy month and a half to open the 2010 season that took the World of Outlaws from coast-to-coast and six different tracks, most of the teams on the tour have returned to their shops to prepare for the heart of the season, which will begin on April 10 with the series inaugural visit to Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Oklahoma. That event will mark the first of 18 consecutive weekends that the series will be in action this spring and summer as another of the most competitive seasons in series history is taking shape.
The World of Outlaws will return to the state of Oklahoma for the first time since 2005 on Saturday, April 10 at Tri-State Speedway. Sam Hafertepe Jr. is the only driver competing full-time with the series that has competed at the track, having made two starts in his career at the 3/8-mile located near the Oklahoma/Arkansas border. The World of Outlaws first competed in Oklahoma during the series inaugural 1978 season.
Following the event at Tri-State Speedway, the World of Outlaws head to Paducah International Raceway in Kentucky on Friday, April 16, where Jason Meyers picked up the win last season followed by a stop at the action-packed I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri on Saturday, April 17, where Joey Saldana and Craig Dollansky split wins last season.
A visit to Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana on Saturday, April 24 will serve as the season opener at the legendary ¼-mile bullring in Southern Indiana, where 20-time series champion Steve Kinser was victorious last season and has won eight times in his World of Outlaws career.
A return to the historic Jackson Speedway in Minnesota is on tap for Saturday, May 1 as the series visits the half-mile for the first time since 2006, an event that was won by four-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz.
The legendary Eldora Speedway will host the World of Outlaws for the first of three separate visits on Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8 before the series embarks on the first East Coast Swing of the season. Schatz won twice last season at Eldora, including the Kings Royal, while Terry McCarl and Jason Sides also picked up single wins with the series at the half-mile.
Heading into the World of Outlaws inaugural event at Tri-State Speedway on Saturday, April 10, just five points separates leader Jason Meyers and Steve Kinser at the top of the standings after the first nine events of the season.
Joey Saldana is currently third in points, only 20 markers out of the lead. Saldana is scheduled to have surgery on his broken left hand this Friday to help regain full range of motion and plans to compete at Tri-State Speedway.
Donny Schatz is currently fourth in the standings, 57 markers out of the lead, with Jason Sides only one point behind him in fifth. Each of the drivers in the Top-Five in points has visited Victory Lane thus far in 2010.
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.