By Tony Veneziano
Sarver, PA-July 13, 2010- Only one time this year can fans see the best sprint car drivers in the world race in two feature events on the same night, by purchasing just one single ticket, as the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup Twin 30’s will take to the track on Tuesday, July 20 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pennsylvania for the richest one-day event on the World of Outlaws calendar, with $15,000 awaiting the winner in each feature, with a possible $30,000 payday awaiting any driver that can sweep both ends of the double dip.
The Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup Twin 30’s will consist of twin 30-lap feature events with the finish of the first 30-lapper determining the lineup-for the second, with all the lead lap cars from the opener being inverted for the finale. Last year Danny Lasoski won the opener in a late race thriller over Jason Sides and lined up 19th in the finale and charged all the way to seventh to earn the overall Silver Cup title, while Stevie Smith was victorious in the second Twin 30.
Leading the way to Lernerville Speedway next week for the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup Twin 30’s will be current series point leader Joey Saldana, who is the track record holder at the always racy four-tenths-mile. Steve Kinser, the 20-time World of Outlaws champion, who has won the Silver Cup twice and is the winningest driver with the series at Lernerville, is less than 30-points behind Saldana as he chases his record 21st title.
Also in action will be Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion, who won the Silver Cup last season, along with two-time Silver Cup champion Donny Schatz, Jason Meyers, who has won seven times this year and is a former winner at Lernerville, Paul McMahan, Jason Sides, Craig Dollansky, Hall of Famer Jac Haudenschild, young gun Lucas Wolfe, Kraig Kinser, Sam Hafertepe Jr. Chad Kemenah, Brian Ellenberger and rookie contenders Ben Gregg and Toni Lutar. Sammy Swindell, who won the first Silver Cup in 1992 and has won the event three times, will also be in action.
Brian Ellenberger, who hails from right down the road in Butler, Pennsylvania, is thrilled to have the Twin-30 format back again in 2010. The reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year with the World of Outlaws was victorious earlier this season at his home track of Lernerville and has five career wins at the track.
“What’s better than two features in the same night,” noted Ellenberger. “It’s great for the fans and for us. We have two shots at it and two is better than one. I’m really excited for the Silver Cup. It’s right in my backyard and we always enjoy going back to Lernerville.”
Paul McMahan, who leads the World of Outlaws this season with seven fast time honors this season driving for Kasey Kahne racing, will be taking part in the Twin 30s for the first time next week. The veteran won earlier this season at the famed Eldora Speedway and would like nothing more than to win both ends of the Silver Cup.
“It’s a good thing for the fans and that’s the biggest thing,” said McMahan. “It will be my first time taking part in the double features so I am looking forward to it. It’s all about the fans and they enjoy it and we have to keep to keep doing that. We’re looking forward to it and we’re going to go out and try to win both races. If you can win both races and come from the back in the second one, you’ll put on a great show for the fans.”
Danny Lasoski, who added his name to an illustrious list of winners of the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup last season, is looking forward to trying to repeat in the famed event. Just two drivers have ever won the event in back-to-back years, with Donny Schatz doing it most recently in 2006 and 2007, while Mark Kinser won four straight Silver Cups between 1996 and 1999.
“You have to watch the track, especially between the features and be able to make adjustments,” explained the 2001 series champion of the Twin feature format at the Silver Cup. “We were able to work on the car last year and made the right changes to work our way to the front in the second feature. They reworked the track after the first feature which helped quite a bit. The fans saw an excellent show and we look to put on another great show this year.”
Joey Saldana, the current World of Outlaws point leader and leading winner this season, is looking for his first career win at Lernerville He finished fifth in the opener of the Silver Cup last season and has 13 Top-10 finishes at the track as he looks to add his name to the list of winners.
“It’s definitely exciting for the fans and that’s what it’s all about,” said Saldana. “With the second race not being for points, you can really roll the dice and go for it and put on a great show for them. I’m really looking forward to it. I love to race and to get to race twice in one night, you can’t ask for much more than that.”
Tickets for the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup Twin 30’s on Tuesday, July 20 at Lernerville Speedway can be purchased online by visiting www.WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets or by calling 704-795-7723. General admission tickets are $29, with reserved tickets $35. Children ages 10-under will be admitted free of charge to the general admission section. Advance reserved tickets include a FREE pit pass upgrade.
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.