By Tony Veneziano
Mechanicsburg, PA- May 13, 2010- Chad Layton heard the naysayer’s after he won a World of Outlaws preliminary feature at the famed Williams Grove Speedway in 2007 and since then he had been out to show that the win in that event was not a fluke. He did that in impressive fashion on Thursday night as he scored his first career A-Feature win with the series and extended the Pennsylvania Posse’s win streak over the World of Outlaws to five after they swept all four races at the track in 2009.
Layton started on the pole and led the first 11 laps before Kraig Kinser got around him. He used a strong double file restart on the 19th lap to get around Kinser as they came off turn four and drag raced down the front straightway. Layton would pace the field for the remaining six circuits to score his second win of the season at the half-mile.
“It’s a big win for the Middleswarth Racing guys,” said Layton in
Victory Lane
. “I just can’t say enough. Everyone has been working so hard and this is a dream come true for us. Things are working really well for us right now. It means a lot to us. It was a dream come true to win that first one. You win one and it might be a fluke, but we’ve won two now, so I guess we arrived.”
Layton started on the pole and jumped to the lead on the opening lap when the first red flag of the night flew for an incident on the front straightaway involving seven cars. On the complete restart, Layton again got the jump on outside front row started Kraig Kinser and led the field into turn one.
After opening an early lead, Layton found himself in heavier lapped traffic by the 10th circuit with Kraig Kinser right on him. Kinser took the lead in turns one and two in traffic on the 12th go-around and had opened up a fairly substantial lead when the second red flag of the night flew on the 19th lap for a flip by Danny Lasoski, who was battling Layton for second.
The ensuing double file restart saw Kinser choose the high side of the track, with Layton taking the lead on the low side of the track in turn one, only to have the caution fly.
“I didn’t want to see that (yellow) at all, but we were good on the restarts,” he noted. “He kind of confused me. That was the first time I have done those double file restarts and it was something new and I wasn’t really sure how that would play out. He changed it up and is a real smart racer and it ended up being better for him and we were able to sneak on by him.”
On the finale double file restart of the night, Kinser chose the low side and led the field into turn one. Layton used a slide job in turn four to inch ahead of Kinser to take the lead. He would go on to lead the final seven laps aboard the Middleswarth Chips J&J to pick up the win over a very hard charging Joey Saldana and Sammy Swindell.
“I think on the restarts the inside might have been the clear advantage,” noted the winner. “Watching that race everyone knows that the high line was the fastest way around, but it was pretty far out there and starting on the inside like that I think you had a little bit of a run, a little bit of an advantage. Once we got back under green (flag) conditions, I think the top was the way to go. It’s just one of those things, where you pick and choose and make the best of it.”
Saldana who finished second in the finale of the rain delayed Summer Nationals last fall at Williams Grove came home second again on Thursday night aboard the Budweiser Maxim. Coupled with beginning the night by turning the fastest lap in time trials to earn five bonus points, Saldana vaulted from third into the lead in the World of Outlaws championship standings by a single point over 20-time series champion Steve Kinser.
“It was a very good run for us,” Saldana said. “The last race of the year here last year we ran second to Cody (Darrah). Two races in a row we have run second here and hopefully we can get a little better and get a win for Kasey Kahne Racing. It’s always seemed to be a really tough track for us and I think we just thought about it too much and the track would beat us. Tonight we didn’t do anything too crazy and were right there all night. We’ll come back tomorrow and hopefully do a little better.”
Sammy Swindell made a late charge to come from eighth to finish third in the last seven laps aboard the Big Game Treestands Maxim, as he continues to fill in for the injured Terry McCarl.
“We were running the guys down and passed them,” said Swindell. “This is really good It would have been nice to have had another eight laps or so or another restart to see what we could do.”
Following the lap-19 red flag, Saldana lined up fourth on the high side of the track and quickly moved into third and was right on Kraig Kinser and Layton as that pair battled for the lead. The final double file restart of the night found him restarting on the low side of the track, where he quickly got around Stevie Smith who had significant damage to the right sideboard of his wing.
“I was mad they threw that yellow,” stated the second generation driver. “I had a really good car and got to third and I think I had something for them at that time, but once they threw the yellow we were lacking a little fuel and then they changed the lineup with Kraig (Kinser) going to the bottom and I was back to fourth and had to work my way back. The first double file was really good, but the second one may have cost us the win.”
On the final restart of the night, Swindell quickly got around Brian Leppo and Smith before setting his sights on Justin Henderson whom he would get around a lap later. Swindell passed Kraig Kinser with two laps remaining and was able to get by Lucas Wolfe on the final circuit to score his third podium finish of the season.
“I was watching and most everybody was running the top and I didn’t really see anybody that was ahead of me on the bottom,” explained the three-time series champion. “I was just having a bit of trouble with the car getting into the corners. On that red I was wanting to run a different line, but was kind of scared when I didn’t see anybody After the start, it kind of mixes everyone up and the car started working for me.”
Lucas Wolfe turned in another strong performance on Thursday night, finishing fourth in the Allebach Racing Maxim at his home track.
Justin Henderson was fifth piloting the Sorokach Motorsports JEI, with Brian Leppo in sixth aboard the Swope Salvage & Recycling JEI. Donny Schatz was seventh in the Armor All/STP J&J. Kraig Kinser, who led seven laps ended up eighth in the Quaker State Maxim, with his machine running out of fuel in the late going.
Lance Dewease came from 17th to finish ninth in the Advanced Development Services J&J. Steve Kinser rounded out the Top-10 after coming all the way from 25th to finish 10th in the Bass Pro Shops Maxim, after having to take a World of Outlaws provisional to start the A-Feature.
The World of Outlaws wrap up their first visit of the season to Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night with another full night of racing.
WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY NIGHT #1 NOTES
•FAST QUALIFIER: Joey Saldana paced the 44 cars that took time with an AMB i.t. timed lap around the semi-banked 1/2-mile oval at 16.364 seconds at 109.998 mph. For his qualifying effort, Saldana earned five bonus points. The next four fastest qualifiers also earned bonus points, including: Sammy Swindell (4), Jason Meyers (3), Kerry Madsen (2) and Brian Leppo (1).
•ADDING TO THE PURSE: Goodyear added an extra $5,000 to the weekend purse at Williams Grove Speedway, which helped boost winner Chad Layton’s take from $8,000 to $8,800 on Thursday night.
•WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY NIGHT #1 QUALIFYING WINNERS: Stevie Smith, Kraig Kinser, Adam Wilt and Danny Lasoski won heat races. Chad Layton won the dash. Alan Krimes won the B-Main. Brent Marks won the C-Main.
• FEATURE WINNERS: There have been 16 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature events held in 2010. The winners include: Jason Meyers (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Thunderbowl Raceway, Volunteer Speedway and Tri-State (Okla.) Speedway), Joey Saldana (Thunderbowl Raceway, Volunteer Speedway, I-55 Raceway and Eldora Speedway), Steve Kinser (Volusia Speedway Park and Jackson Speedway), Craig Dollansky (Lone Star Speedway), Jac Haudenschild (Paducah International Raceway), Chad Layton (Williams Grove Speedway), Paul McMahan (Eldora Speedway), Donny Schatz (Volusia Speedway Park) and Jason Sides (Houston Raceway Park).
•1/2-MILE WINNERS: Williams Grove Speedway is a high-banked half-mile. The World of Outlaws have raced eight times at a track that size in 2010. The winners include: Steve Kinser (Volusia Speedway Park and Jackson Speedway), Craig Dollansky (Lone Star Speedway), Chad Layton (Williams Grove Speedway), Paul McMahan (Eldora Speedway), Jason Meyers (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway), Joey Saldana (Eldora Speedway) and Donny Schatz (Volusia Speedway Park).
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Williams Grove Speedway; Mechanicsburg, PA; May 13, 2010
Qualifying
1) 9-Joey Saldana 16.364
2) 24-Sammy Swindell 16.388
3) 14-Jason Meyers 16.405
4) 3-Kerry Madsen 16.454
5) 71-Brian Leppo 16.496
6) 5W-Lucas Wolfe 16.498
7) 91-Paul McMahan 16.501
8) 87-Alan Krimes 16.529
9) 1-Stevie Smith 16.553
10) 13-Daryn Pittman 16.559
11) 35-Justin Henderson 16.580
12) 6-Danny Lasoski 16.582
13) 7L-ChadLayton 16.583
14) 11K-Kraig Kinser 16.586
15) 15X-Adam Wilt 16.587
16) R19-Jac Haudenschild 16.615
17) 30C-Lance Dewease 16.635
18) 15-Donny Schatz 16.650
19) 7-Craig Dollansky 16.656
20) 63-Chad Kemenah 16.658
21) 18-Ryan Bohlke 16.662
22) 22H-Greg Hodnett 16.666
23) 11-Steve Kinser 16.715
24) 21-Brian Montieth 16.718
25) 25-Aaron Ott 16.719
26) 22-Brian Ellenberger 16.738
27) 49-Brad Sweet 16.751
28) 3T-Brooke Tatnell 16.780
29) 69K-Donald Kreitz Jr. 16.783
30) 59-Jim Siegel 16.829
31) 51-Fred Rahmer 16.834
32) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr. 16.856
33) 7S-Jason Sides 16.882
34) 4X-Toni Lutar 16.918
35) 17B-Steve Buckwalter 16.934
36) 39-Doug Esh 16.952
37) 19M-Brent Marks 17.003
38) 20S-Derek Sell 17.008
39) 2B-Ben Gregg 17.014
40) 7M-Mark Smith 17.014
41) 17-Tyler Walker 17.022
42) O7-Mark Caldren 17.138
43) 45-A J Michael 17.216
44) 11C-Cory Haas 17.300
45) 48-Danny Dietrich -.—
Heat 1 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature) – Starting Position [#]
1) 1-Stevie Smith[2]
2) 7L-ChadLayton[1]
3) 9-Joey Saldana[4]
4) 71-Brian Leppo[3]
5) 7S-Jason Sides[9]
6) 30C-Lance Dewease[5]
7) 25-Aaron Ott[7]
8) 18-Ryan Bohlke[6]
9) 19M-Brent Marks[10]
10) 17-Tyler Walker[11]
11) 69K-Donald Kreitz Jr.[8]
12) 48-Danny Dietrich[12]
Heat 2 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature) – Starting Position [#]
1) 11K-Kraig Kinser[1]
2) 5W-Lucas Wolfe[3]
3) 13-Daryn Pittman[2]
4) 24-Sammy Swindell[4]
5) 15-Donny Schatz[5]
6) 22H-Greg Hodnett[6]
7) 59-Jim Siegel[8]
8) 22-Brian Ellenberger[7]
9) 4X-Toni Lutar[9]
10) O7-Mark Caldren[11]
11) 20S-Derek Sell[10]
Heat 3 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature) – Starting Position [#]
1) 15X-Adam Wilt[1]
2) 35-Justin Henderson[2]
3) 91-Paul McMahan[3]
4) 7-Craig Dollansky[5]
5) 14-Jason Meyers[4]
6) 11-Steve Kinser[6]
7) 49-Brad Sweet[7]
8) 51-Fred Rahmer[8]
9) 17B-Steve Buckwalter[9]
10) 2B-Ben Gregg[10]
11) 45-A J Michael[11]
Heat 4 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature) – Starting Position [#]
1) 6-Danny Lasoski[2]
2) R19-Jac Haudenschild[1]
3) 3-Kerry Madsen[4]
4) 21-Brian Montieth[6]
5) 39-Doug Esh[9]
6) 87-Alan Krimes[3]
7) 3T-Brooke Tatnell[7]
8) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[8]
9) 11C-Cory Haas[11]
10) 63-Chad Kemenah[5]
Dash (6 laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature) – Starting Position [#]
1) 7L-ChadLayton[2]
2) 11K-Kraig Kinser[1]
3) 6-Danny Lasoski[3]
4) 35-Justin Henderson[4]
5) 1-Stevie Smith[5]
6) 9-Joey Saldana[8]
7) 5W-Lucas Wolfe[6]
8) 24-Sammy Swindell[7]
9) R19-Jac Haudenschild[10]
10) 15X-Adam Wilt[9]
C-main (10 laps, top 2 finishers transferred to B-main) – Starting Position [#]
1) 19M-Brent Marks[1]
2) 20S-Derek Sell[2]
3) 17-Tyler Walker[4] [$125]
4) 2B-Ben Gregg[3] [$125]
5) O7-Mark Caldren[5] [$125]
6) 45-A J Michael[6] [$100]
7) 48-Danny Dietrich[8] [$100]
8) 11C-Cory Haas[7] [$100]
9) 7M-Mark Smith[9] [$100]
B-main (12 laps, top 4 finishers transferred to A-feature) – Starting Position [#]
1) 87-Alan Krimes[1]
2) 30C-Lance Dewease[2]
3) 25-Aaron Ott[7]
4) 22H-Greg Hodnett[5]
5) 18-Ryan Bohlke[4] [$200]
6) 49-Brad Sweet[9] [$180]
7) 3T-Brooke Tatnell[10] [$175]
8) 69K-Donald Kreitz Jr.[11] [$160]
9) 51-Fred Rahmer[13] [$150]
10) 19M-Brent Marks[17] [$150]
11) 22-Brian Ellenberger[8] [$150]
12) 4X-Toni Lutar[15] [$150]
13) 11-Steve Kinser[6] [$150]
14) 59-Jim Siegel[12] [$150]
15) 20S-Derek Sell[18] [$150]
16) 63-Chad Kemenah[3] [$150]
17) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[14] [$150]
18) 17B-Steve Buckwalter[16] [$150]
A-main (25 laps) – Starting Position [#]
1) 7L-ChadLayton[1] [$8,800]
2) 9-Joey Saldana[6] [$4,600]
3) 24-Sammy Swindell[8] [$2,900]
4) 5W-Lucas Wolfe[7] [$2,400]
5) 35-Justin Henderson[4] [$2,300]
6) 71-Brian Leppo[13] [$2,200]
7) 15-Donny Schatz[18] [$2,000]
8) 11K-Kraig Kinser[2] [$1,800]
9) 30C-Lance Dewease[17] [$1,700]
10) 11-Steve Kinser[25] [$800]
11) 91-Paul McMahan[14] [$1,400]
12) 14-Jason Meyers[11] [$1,300]
13) 87-Alan Krimes[15] [$1,200]
14) 1-Stevie Smith[5] [$900]
15) 7-Craig Dollansky[19] [$700]
16) 19M-Brent Marks[28] [$0]
17) 51-Fred Rahmer[26] [$0]
18) 7S-Jason Sides[23] [$700]
19) 22H-Greg Hodnett[20] [$700]
20) R19-Jac Haudenschild[9] [$700]
21) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[27] [$0]
22) 21-Brian Montieth[21] [$700]
23) 6-Danny Lasoski[3] [$700]
24) 13-Daryn Pittman[16] [$700]
25) 25-Aaron Ott[22] [$700]
26) 39-Doug Esh[24] [$700]
27) 3-Kerry Madsen[12] [$700]
28) 15X-Adam Wilt[10] [$700]
Lap Leaders: ChadLayton 1-11, 19-25; Kraig Kinser 12-18
KSE Hard Charger Award: Steve Kinser
Note: Steve Kinser and Sam Hafertepe Jr. used World of Outlaws provisionals to start the A-Feature. Fred Rahmer and Brent Marks used Williams Grove Speedway track provisionals to start the A-Feature.
World of Outlaws Championship Standings through May 13
1. Joey Saldana 2260
2. Steve Kinser 2259 -1
3. Jason Meyers 2255 -5
4. Donny Schatz 2178 -82
5. Jason Sides 2117 -143
6. Danny Lasoski 2094 -166
7. Paul McMahan 2090 -170
8. Lucas Wolfe 2049 -211
9. Jac Haudenschild 2038 -222
10. Kraig Kinser 2035 -225