By Tony Veneziano
Sedalia, MO-June 15, 2010- Just as temperatures outside are heating up, so too is the battle on the track in the Showdown for the Bud Crown, which has the World of Outlaws heading to the historic Missouri State Fair Speedway this week for Kasey’s King of Sedalia Presented By Budweiser on Wednesday, June 16.
With two rounds of the Showdown for the Bud Crown in the books, just seven points separate 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser and Jason Meyers at the top of the four-race mini-series standings, with two events remaining., A total of $15,000 is on the line for the drivers that finish among the Top-Three in the competition, with Brad Sweet currently third, Paul McMahan fourth just eight points behind him and hometown favorite Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion, fifth, just eight markers out of the fourth spot.
Kasey Kahne will not only don the promoter’s hat for the event, but will compete for the second time this season with the World of Outlaws as he joins his pair of drivers Joey Saldana and Paul McMahan, who is a former winner at Missouri State Fair Speedway with the series. Kahne finished third at Sedalia in 2008 and was second in his debut at the track in 2007. Kahne competed in the opener of the Showdown for the Bud Crown in March, setting a new track record that night in time trials before having some trouble in the feature.
Joey Saldana leads the series into Sedalia as the current series point leader on the strength of a series-best 18 Top-Five finishes. He has won five times on the year including in the most recent World of Outlaws event last Sunday afternoon. The second generation driver has nine career Top-10 finishes in 10 starts with the series at Sedalia.
Kinser has five wins with the series at Missouri State Fair Speedway to lead all drivers. He has racked up 19 Top-10 finishes over the years with 15 of those being Top-Fives. The Hall of Famer has won twice this season on half-mile tracks and is currently third in points as he chases his record 21 st title.
Jason Meyers won for the first time at Missouri State Fair Speedway in 2005 and has finished ninth or better in each of his last five starts with the World of Outlaws at the track. He leads the series with six wins this season and is just seven points behind Kinser in the battle for the Bud Crown and only 32 markers behind Joey Saldana in the chase for the World of Outlaws title.
Danny Lasoski, who hails from nearby Dover, Missouri has won three times with the World of Outlaws at Sedalia and has eight overall wins at the track in his career. He has an average finish of 5.3 with the World of Outlaws in 17 starts at Missouri State Fair Speedway to lead all drivers.
Donny Schatz, the four-time and defending World of Outlaws champion, has won twice at Sedalia including the series last stop at the half-mile in 2008. He has 11 career Top-10 finishes at the track including in eight of his last nine starts there.
The World of Outlaws raced for the first time at Missouri State Fair Speedway in 1978 with Hall of Famer Rick Ferkel taking the checkered flag. A total of 12 drivers have picked up wins with the series at the historic half-mile over the years.
The Buzz-
* Steve Kinser is the current leader in the overall standings in the Showdown for the Bud Crown, holding a seven-point advantage over Jason Meyers. Kinser has won five times with the World of Outlaws at Missouri State Fair Speedway and has 19 Top-10 finishes with the series at the track.
* Donny Schatz was victorious last time the World of Outlaws visited Sedalia, and also won the companion Modified event that night. The four-time and defending series champion has two career wins at the track.
* Jason Meyers, who leads the World of Outlaws in wins this season with six, was victorious at Missouri State Fair Speedway in 2005 and has five career Top-10 finishes with the series at the track.
* Danny Lasoski who hails from nearby Dover, Missouri has won three wins with the World of Outlaws at the half-mile and has finished in the Top-10 in 16 of his 17 starts with the series at the track.
* Paul McMahan, who drives for Kasey Kahne Racing, scored his first career World of Outlaws A-Feature win at Sedalia in 2001. The veteran has six career Top-10 finishes with the series at the track.
* Kasey Kahne is still chasing his first career World of Outlaws A-Feature win. He has eight career Top-10 finishes with the series with one of those being a Top-Five.
* Lucas Wolfe, Brian Ellenberger and Ben Gregg will each be making their first starts at Missouri State Fair Speedway this week.
* Toni Lutar, one of the contenders for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award will be making his first start at Sedalia since 2004, when he set fast time in qualifying.
By the Numbers: Kasey’s King of Sedalia Presented By Budweiser
0.5- Miles around Missouri State Fair Speedway
1- Driver competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that hails from Missouri- Danny Lasoski
3- Drivers that led laps in the feature event for the World of Outlaws at Sedalia in 2008
4- Races that comprise the Showdown for the Bud Crown; Laps led by Donny Schatz en route to winning the last World of Outlaws event at Missouri State Fair Speedway in 2008
5- Laps led by Joey Saldana at Sedalia in 2008 en route to a runner-up finish; Drivers currently competing full-time with the series that have won at the track
5.3- Average finish for Danny Lasoski at Sedalia in World of Outlaws events to lead all drivers competing full-time with the series
7- Points that separate Steve Kinser and Jason Meyers at the top of the Showdown for the Bud Crown standings
11- Drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws this season that raced at Sedalia in 2008
12- Drivers that have won an A-Feature with the World of Outlaws at Missouri State Fair Speedway dating back to 1978; Drivers that have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws this season
15.676 – Track record established by Craig Dollansky in time trials in 2001
16- Laps led by Craig Dollansky at Missouri State Fair Speedway in 2008 en route to a third-place finish
18- Top-Five finishes this season for Joey Saldana to lead the series
19- Top-10 finishes for Steve Kinser at Sedalia with the World of Outlaws to lead all drivers
20- Drivers that have led laps in feature events this season with the series
22- Starts for Steve Kinser at Missouri State Fair Speedway with the World of Outlaws to lead all drivers
23- Top-10 finishes this season for Steve Kinser to lead the series
32- Points that separate Joey Saldana and Jason Meyers at the top of the World of Outlaws standings
38- Drivers that have competed in the Showdown for the Bud Crown this season
431- Miles from Dodge City Raceway Park in Kansas where the World of Outlaws compete on June 11 & 13 to Missouri State Fair Speedway in Sedalia
152- Laps led by Joey Saldana in feature events this season to lead all drivers
1978- Year the World of Outlaws first competed at Missouri State Fair Speedway
2008- Year the World of Outlaws last competed at Missouri State Fair Speedway
10,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Wednesday, June 16
51,690- Dollars in the total purse on Wednesday, June 16
116,200- Dollars earned by Joey Saldana this season to lead the series
Tickets
On Wednesday, June 16 at Missouri State Fair Speedway, Reserved tickets are $29 for adults in advance and $35 the day of the race, with tickets for Children (12-under) $9 when purchased in advance. General Admission tickets for adults will be $29 in advance for and $35 the day of the race, with general admission tickets for Children (6-12) $9. Children ages 6-under will be admitted free of charge in the general admission section. For more information and to purchase tickets call: (704) 795-RACE (7223), www.worldofoutlaws.com/tickets.
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 , R2C Performance, 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