By Tony Veneziano
Alger, WA-September 2, 2010 -Skagit Speedway in Washington was one of the track that hosted the World of Outlaws during the inaugural 1978 season and also the next year as well, and after a couple of hiatuses, the track has now become a staple during the Gold Rush Tour, with the series visiting the high-banked three-tenths-mile bullring each and every year since 2006. That tradition will continue this week, as the World of Outlaws visit the track located in the always scenic Pacific Northwest on Friday, September 3 and Saturday, September 4, with $20,000 awaiting the winner on Saturday night, with both nights being full racing programs.
Jason Meyers won the finale at Skagit Speedway last season to earn the $20,000 top prize, which at the time was the richest payday of his career. He has since matched that, winning the Ironman 55 last month to again pick up $20,000. The veteran has finished on the podium in each of his last four starts at the track. Meyers is currently third in points just 39 markers out of the lead as he seeks his first World of Outlaws title.
Joey Saldana was victorious in the opener at Skagit Speedway last season, recording a clean sweep of the night, which was the only clean sweep of the entire 2009 season with the World of Outlaws. He leads all current drivers at Skagit with three wins and has finished in the Top-10 in eight of his nine career starts at the track. He currently has a 36-point lead on 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser in the series standings as he too chases his first title.
Kinser won a preliminary feature at Skagit Speedway in 1995. He has 11 career Top-10 finishes at the track dating back to 1978, with 10 of those being Top-Fives. He leads the series with 48 Top-10 finishes on the season and has picked up 32 Top-Fives as well.
Craig Dollansky won the finale at Skagit in 2007 and has seven career Top-10 finishes in nine starts at the track. He has won a couple of times this season and recently moved up to seventh in points.
Donny Schatz, the four-time and defending series champion, won a preliminary feature at the high-banked bullring in 2006. He has eight career Top-10 finishes in nine starts at the track.
The World of Outlaws competed at Skagit Speedway for the first time in the series inaugural season of 1978 with Hall of Famer Doug Wolfgang picking up a couple of wins. Nine different drivers have visited Victory Lane at the track in the 15 A-Feature events contested.
Saturday, September 4 is STP Hat Day at Skagit Speedway. The first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive a FREE hat, courtesy of STP. Gates will open at 5 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.
The Buzz:
· Jason Meyers won for the first time at Skagit Speedway last season with the World of Outlaws and has five Top-10 finishes with the World of Outlaws in seven starts.
· Joey Saldana has won three times with the World of Outlaws at Skagit Speedway, the most of any driver and has an average finish of 5.3 at the track to lead all drivers in that department as well.
· Steve Kinser won a preliminary feature at Skagit in 1995 and has 11 Top-10 finishes in his career at the track with 10 of those being Top-Five performances. He has made the most starts with the series at the track of any driving competing full-time with the series dating back to his debut at the track in 1978.
· Donny Schatz won a preliminary feature at Skagit in 2006 and has eight career Top-10 finishes in nine starts at the track,
· Jason Sides finished second in the opener and fifth in the finale last year at Skagit Speedway to earn the best two finishes of his career at the track. He also set a new track record in time trials in the finale.
· Craig Dollansky won for the first time at Skagit Speedway in 2007 and has seven career Top-10 finishes in nine starts. He ran fifth in the opener last season.
· Kraig Kinser finished fourth and seventh last season at Skagit and has finished in the Top-10 in three of his four starts at the track.
· Jac Haudenschild finished third in the finale at the high-banked bullring last season and has six career Top-10 finishes at the track.
· Chad Kemenah will make his first appearance at Skagit Speedway since 2008 this weekend. He finished fifth in each of his first two starts at the track in 2006.
· Toni Lutar, who hails from just over the border in White Rock British, Columbia, Canada, considers Skagit Speedway his home track and has been victorious at the track three times in his career.
· Ben Gregg, the leading contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year will make his first start at Skagit Speedway this weekend and the first start of his career in the state of Washington.
· Saturday will be STP Hat Day at the high-banked bullring, with the first 1,000 fans through the gate at 5 p.m. Pacific receiving an STP hat.
One year ago: Jason Meyers scored the richest win of his career pocketing $20,000 for winning the finale at Skagit Speedway last season. The California native got around early leader Jayme Barnes on the ninth lap and would outdistance Joey Saldana and Jac Haudenschild for the win. Jason Sides opened the night by setting a new track record in time trials, while Jonathan Allard, Saldana, Haudenschild and Lucas Wolfe won heat races, with the dash going to Jason Sides.
Joey Saldana opened the two-day event at Skagit Speedway with a clean sweep, setting fast time, winning the first heat race, winning the dash and winning the A-Feature over Jason Sides and Jason Meyers. Tyler Walker, Nick Engberg and Sammy Swindell also won heat races. Saldana took the lead in the main event from Sides on the fourth circuit and would lead the remainder of the distance.
By the Numbers: Skagit Speedway
0.3- Miles around Skagit Speedway
1- Driver that will be visiting Skagit Speedway for the first time- Ben Gregg
2- Races on a three-tenths-mile tracks this season for the World of Outlaws
3- Races in the state of Washington this season for the World of Outlaws; Career wins at Skagit Speedway for current rookie contender Toni Lutar
4- Drivers competing with the World of Outlaws this season that have won at Skagit Speedway; Drives that led laps in the two A-Feature events for the series at the track in 2009
9- Drivers that have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws at Skagit Speedway
10.872 – Track record established by Jason Sides in time trials in 2009
11- Drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws this season that raced at Skagit Speedway with the series last year
12- A-Feature wins for Joey Saldana this season to lead the series
15- A-Feature events contested by the World of Outlaws at Skagit Speedway dating back to 1978; Starts for Steve Kinser at Skagit with the World of Outlaws to lead all drivers
17- Drivers that have been quickest in time trials this season with the series
18- Drivers that have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws in 2010
26- Laps led by Joey Saldana en route to winning the opener at Skagit last season
31- Laps led by Jason Meyers en route to winning the finale at Skagit last season
34- Drivers that competed with the series at Skagit Speedway last season
36- Points that currently separate leader Joey Saldana and Steve Kinser in the World of Outlaws standings
99.338 – Track record in miles per hour established by Jason Sides last year
310- Laps led by Joey Saldana in feature events in 2010 to lead the series
373- Miles from Cottage Grove Speedway in Oregon where the World of Outlaws compete on September 1 to Skagit Speedway in Washington
1978- Year the World of Outlaws first competed at Skagit Speedway
8,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Friday, September 3
20,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Saturday, September 4
97,050- Dollars in the total purse for both nights of racing at Skagit Speedway
Tickets: On Friday, September 3 at Skagit Speedway, Adults tickets (ages 18-64) will be $35, with tickets for Seniors (ages 64-over), Juniors (ages 7-17) and Military $25, with tickets for children (6-under) $10. For more information and to purchase tickets call the track office at 360) 724-3567.
On Saturday, September 4 at Skagit Speedway, Adults tickets (ages 18-64) will be $35, with tickets for Seniors (ages 64-over), Juniors (ages 7-17) and Military $25, with tickets for children (6-under) $10. For more information and to purchase tickets call the track office at 360) 724-3567.
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.