From Eldora Speedway
ROSSBURG, OH (April 27) – Whenever the travelling World of Outlaw (WoO) Sprint series stops at Eldora Speedway, there has never been any shortage of anticipation and their Outlaw Thunder by Goodyear 2010 Midwestern debut May 7 and 8 is expected to be no different.
Headlining the story lines will be the initial appearance for the recently mandated Goodyear racing tires at Eldora Speedway. While the WoO teams have a brief history of 12 races at varying facilities to date on the new rubber, it will be ‘back to the drawing board’ at Eldora. All previous chassis set-up notes will be thrown out the window.
Admittedly the drivers and crew chiefs were apprehensive when Goodyear came on board as the compulsory tire choice for 2010. After a void of many seasons from the winged Sprint Car world, Goodyear came out of the gate with a competitive tire and this season has found many races won from deep within the pack – something not seen on a regular basis for many years.
Among the drivers adapting quickly to the Goodyear emergence has been Jason Meyers, who holds down the WoO cumulative points lead with only one race separating him from that title and the Eldora weekend. Meyers has 4 wins to his credit thus far into the campaign, with 8 finishes in the top five and all 12 WoO appearances have found him finishing amongst the top ten.
With two Eldora career wins, Meyers is hungry to pick up another Eldora triumph, as it has been since 2007 that he has visited the hallowed Big E victory lane.
Equally hungry is a rejuvenated Steve Kinser. The 20-time WoO champion joined the Tony Stewart Racing stable during the off-season and things have instantly clicked for the team. Thus far into the 2010 campaign, Kinser is ranked third in the points chase, only 30 markers behind Meyers. The all-time leading Eldora WoO victor (34 wins) has one 2010 WoO win, has finished in the top 5 eight times and has 11 of 12 finishes within the top ten. It has been since 2007 and the Knight Before the Kings Royal event that the 55-year-old veteran has tasted an Eldora conquest and he is chomping at the bit.
And while Kinser is pumped up after a dismal (by his standards) 2009 season, teammate Donny Schatz is a little bewildered. With four consecutive WoO titles to his credit, Schatz is anticipating the Eldora visit as much as anyone. Three of his four Eldora WoO wins have come within the last two years, including a pair of wins and last year’s Kings Royal. He is hoping that the Eldora turf will turn his season around. He is currently fourth in the points race with one victory and 10 top ten finishes.
Nursing a broken hand suffered earlier in the season hasn’t slowed down Joey Saldana, who has always mesmerized the Eldora gentry with his ‘up against the wall’ flat out driving style. The second generation driver has nine Eldora WoO wins on his resume and currently holds down runner-up honors on the 2010 WoO trail following his 3 wins and 11 top ten finishes.
While much of the focus will be on this foursome, the advent of the new tires and set-ups could set the stage for a new winner. It has been since 2004 that a non-follower of the WoO trail has upset the field. That came when Dale Blaney captured the Knight Before the Kings Royal.
Two complete nights of point racing are on tap for the WoO runners as part of the Outlaw Thunder by Goodyear. Eldora’s stock cars will join the WoO teams each night, while the UMP (United Midwestern Promoters) Modifieds will make for a tripleheader on Saturday.
Complete time schedules and event information may be found on the speedway’s website www.eldoraspeedway.com.