By Tony Veneziano
Jackson, MN-April 27, 2010- Jackson Speedway is a wide, fast half-mile that has plenty of room for racing and that has been very evident in each of the last three World of Outlaws events at the Minnesota track, as close racing has been the norm. The series will return to the historic venue this weekend for the first time since 2006 on Saturday, May 1 for a full night of racing with $10,000 awaiting the winner.
In the series last visit to Jackson Speedway, four-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz picked up the win on a very windy night that saw him not only battle the 23 other competitors, but also the blustery condition and impending weather to score his first World of Outlaws win at the track and his sixth overall triumph at the half-mile, where he raced a number of times early in his career. Schatz win came just minutes before a very large storm rolled into the area as the teams were loading up their trailers.
“Mother Nature made everyone go around there fast with the wind,” said Schatz, after his win at Jackson in 2006. “She barely let us get it in before it started raining. The track was so fast tonight that I could barely get through lapped traffic. That’s just the way it goes. Sometimes you make mistakes and I did everything I could to get through a few guys. On a big half-mile, that’s sometimes the way it works.”
Daryn Pittman was victorious in 2005 at Jackson Speedway over a very hard charging Schatz late in the race. In addition to holding off Schatz, Pittman was nursing an engine that had gone sour around the halfway point of the race to score his first career win at the half-mile. A couple of late race restarts gave both Schatz and Tim Shaffer a shot at Pittman.
“It was getting tougher and tougher,” said Pittman, after his win in 2005. “On those restarts, I was a sitting a duck. I knew once we got our speed up it was going to be tough for them to pass me. I kept trying to start as early as I could so I could get going faster.”
It was a family affair in 2004 at Jackson Speedway as Steve and Kraig Kinser battled for the win. Terry McCarl led early in the race with Kraig Kinser taking the lead on the 12th lap with his father taking the second spot on the same circuit. On the 19th lap, Kraig jumped the cushion just a little bit, giving Steve the opening he needed to take the lead, which he would hold the rest of the way to score the victory over his son. It was the second time in 2004 that the pair finished one/two, as it was also the case at Cottage Grove Speedway a month before, which saw Kraig finish on top to earn his first career World of Outlaws A-Feature win over his father. Ironically, the pair has finished one/two three times over the year and two of those have come in the state of Minnesota.
“It was a good night for Steve Kinser Racing, first and second,” shared Steve Kinser after the win in 2004. “Kraig did a good job tonight, he just got caught behind a lapped car and got over the cushion. It’s a shame, but he’s been running real good and he’s going to win plenty of races. He’s been getting faster and faster every week, and I’m proud of him.”
For the elder Kinser that was his second consecutive win at the track, as he was also victorious in 1988 in the Jackson Nationals which were run under the World of Outlaws banner. Earlier in the 1988 season, three-time series champion Sammy Swindell, who will be in action this weekend, was victorious at the half-mile. Bobby Davis Jr. the 1989 World of Outlaws title winner won in the series debut at Jackson Speedway in 1987.
One of the strongest fields in World of Outlaws history is following the series full-time this season and will be in action this weekend, led by Jason Meyers who is on top of the standings on the strength of four wins and 12 Top-10 finishes.
On Saturday, May 1 at Jackson Speedway, adult general admission tickets will be $30 in advance and $35 the day of the race, with general admission tickets for kids ages 6-12 $15 in advance and $15 the day of the race, with children ages 5-under admitted free of charge. Adult reserved tickets will be $33 in advance and $35 the day of the race with reserved tickets for kids ages 12-under $15 in advance and $15 the day of the race. Pit combos, which include a reserved ticket and a pit pass will be available in advance for $38. For tickets call SLS Promotions at 815-344-2023 or the track at 507-841-1957.
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), Chizmark & Larson Insurance , 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.