By Tony Veneziano
Jackson , MN-April 29, 2010- Jackson Speedway in Minnesota is one of the most historic venues in the Upper Midwest and this weekend another chapter will be added, as the World of Outlaws return to the venerable half-mile for the first time since 2006 on Saturday, May 1 for a full night of racing.
Jason Meyers leads the series into Jackson Speedway on the strength of four A-Feature wins as he looks for his first victory at the track. The California native has a 17-point lead over Joey Saldana in the World of Outlaws championship standings as both drivers chase their first title.
Donny Schatz, the four-time and defending series champion, was victorious at the track in 2006 en route to claiming his first series title. The North Dakota native raced at the half-mile numerous times early in his career as he was climbing the sprint car ladder and has six overall wins at the track.
Steve Kinser, the 20-time World of Outlaws champion, who is Schatz’s teammate at Tony Stewart Racing this season has won twice with the series at Jackson Speedway and is the only driver that has multiple A-Feature wins with the series at the track.
The World of Outlaws first raced at Jackson Speedway in 1987, with former series title winner Bobby Davis Jr. picking up the win in that event. A total of six A-Feature events have been contested by the series at the track with five different drivers picking up checkered flags.
The Buzz-
*Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion, has made 20 career starts at Jackson Speedway dating back to 1986. He has five career wins at the track, though is still chasing his first World of Outlaws win at Jackson.
*Craig Dollansky, the only driver competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that hails from Minnesota finished third in 2006 at Jackson, as he looks for his first career win at the track.
*Steve Kinser has made six starts with the World of Outlaws at Jackson Speedway and has finished in the Top-Five in each and every one. He has two victories and an average finish of third at the track with the series.
*Jason Meyers looks to keep his streak of finishing among the Top-10 in every race this season intact. He leads the series with four wins and finished sixth at Jackson in 2005 as he looks for his first win at the track.
*Donny Schatz, the four-time and defending World of Outlaws champion, competed at Jackson Speedway quite a bit in the early days of his career and has six overall wins at the track.
*Three-time series champion Sammy Swindell, will return to Jackson Speedway for the first time since 2005 as he continues to fill in for the injured Terry McCarl. Swindell has three career wins at the half-mile, with two of those coming in World of Outlaws events, a preliminary feature and an A-Feature.
*Joey Saldana finished seventh in his debut at Jackson Speedway in 2004. He followed that up with a fourth-place effort in 2005 and was the runner-up in 2006, as he looks for his first victory at the half-mile.
*Jac Haudenschild, who recently picked up his first win of 2010, has finished seventh or better in all five of his career starts at Jackson Speedway. The Ohio native has two career podium finishes at the track.
*Kraig Kinser finished second to his father Steve in his debut at Jackson Speedway in 2004. The third generation driver led a large part of that event before his father got around him. It was the second time the father/son pair had finished one/two that year.
*A total of five drivers that are competing full-time with the World of Outlaws this season will be making their debut at Jackson Speedway.
Over the years
World of Outlaws A-Feature winners at Jackson Speedway include:
2006-Donny Schatz on September 16
2005- Daryn Pittman on September 23
2004- Steve Kinser on September 24
1988- Sammy Swindell on July 6, Steve Kinser on August 20
1987- Bobby Davis Jr. on July
By the numbers- Jackson Speedway
0.5- Miles around Jackson Speedway
1- Driver from the state of Minnesota competing full-time with the World of Outlaws this season- Craig Dollansky
2- Drivers competing for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this season- Ben Gregg and Toni Lutar
3- Total events for the World of Outlaws in the state of Minnesota this year; Track records that have been established this season in time trials
4- Races on half-mile tracks thus far in 2010 for the series; Drivers that have won on half-mile tracks this season
5- Drivers that have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws at Jackson Speedway dating back to the series debut at the track in 1987
6- A-Feature events held by the World of Outlaws at Jackson Speedway dating back to 1987
7- Drivers that have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws this season
9- Drivers that have been quickest in time trials this season
11- Drivers that have led laps in feature events in the first 12 races of 2010
15.795- Track record at Jackson Speedway established by Terry McCarl in time trials on September 23, 2005
17- Points that separate leader Jason Meyers and Joey Saldana in the World of Outlaws championship standings
18- Drivers currently competing full-time with the World of Outlaws in 2010
21- Laps led by Donny Schatz in 2006 to win the last World of Outlaws event at Jackson Speedway
28- World of Outlaws championships accounted for by drivers that will be competing at Jackson Speedway
76- Laps led by Joey Saldana this season to lead all drivers
553- A-Feature wins with the World of Outlaws in his career for Steve Kinser entering this weekend
715- Miles from Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana where the World of Outlaws were scheduled to compete on April 24 to Jackson Speedway
1987- Year the World of Outlaws first competed at Jackson Speedway
2006- Year the World of Outlaws last competed at Jackson Speedway
10,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Saturday, May 1
51,690- Dollars in the total purse on Saturday, May 1
61,800- Dollars earned by Jason Meyers to lead the series
Tickets
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 12-under $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 the track at 507-841-1957 or SLS Promotions at 815-344-2023.
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.