By Kyle Luetters
CONCORD, N.C. – March 28, 2011 – The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series California Spring Break has included two exciting events with a sure-to-thrill tripleheader set for this week beginning Thursday (March 31) atGiant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford followed Friday (April 1) at Merced Speedway and Saturday (April 2) at Calistoga Speedway.
Craig Dollansky kicked off the swing March 12 with a victory in the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway, and then after rain postponed the A-main March 18 at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway, Joey Saldana held off hometown hero Jason Meyers on March 19 at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif.
Heading into the busy spring stretch, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how the season is taking shape through nine events with this California weekend sure to impact the Road to the World Finals:
With his victory at Thunderbowl Raceway, Joey Saldana moved into a tie with Steve Kinser atop the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship standings. Kinser is aiming for the 21st championship of his storied career while Saldana is leading the points for the first time since last September in his quest for his – and team owner Kasey Kahne’s – first championship.
Defending series champion Jason Meyers is still looking for his first victory, and considering he’ll start from the pole on Thursday night at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway and was the runner-up at Tulare, it doesn’t appear he’s too far from accomplishing that goal as he looks to repeat his championship performance from last year.
(Click here for an in depth interview with Meyers)
Four-time champion Donny Schatz has steadily climbed the standings and is also seeking his first victory of the year. His consistent Top-5 finishes will to keep him in the title hunt until he winds up in victory lane.
A victory at Royal Purple Raceway and five Top-5 runs have Sammy Swindell sitting fifth in points as he aims for his second win this weekend in California.
Jason Sides started off incredibly strong with a victory on the final night of the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia followed by runner-up finishes at Pike County Speedway and Royal Purple Raceway. Sides will be looking to get back on track at Hanford on Thursday night, where he’ll start on the outside of Row 2.
Cody Darrah’s rookie campaign is off to a strong start with four Top-Five runs and 12 laps led. The young Pennsylvania star is racing on all of the California tracks for the first time with the World of Outlaws, but the size and shape of half-mile Calistoga Speedway should suit his style.
Paul McMahan already has three quick times this season in only nine events, and that doesn’t include the record he shattered at Volusia the night before the Outlaws started racing. His five Top 10s this season have him in the title hunt, and he’ll be starting seventh at Hanford for California native Dennis Roth.
Craig Dollansky has led 86 laps this season, only one short of series leader Steve Kinser, but misfortune struck twice while he was in front. He left no doubt in the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway to earn a dominating victory. He’ll start on the outside of Row 3 Thursday night at Hanford as he seeks his second victory of the year.
Lucas Wolfe rounds out the Top 10 in the championship standings with five Top-10 runs this season. Wolfe has steadily climbed into the title chase since Florida, and is only 64 points out of the Top Five.
Kraig Kinser is settling into his new ride at Parsons Motorsports. A strong run at Florida, including a pole and a Top-Five finish on the second night of the season, has him looking for strong results this year.
Chad Kemenah used a strong run at Royal Purple Raceway to gain momentum this season, including a couple of Top 10s. Kemenah started on the outside of the front row at Royal Purple and led the first eight laps, hanging on for a Top Five.
Bill Rose is aiming to capture the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award and looking to kick start his season with the World of Outlaws on Thursday night at Hanford, where he’ll start ninth. Rose did win a non-wing event the week before at Silver Dollar Speedway.
Ben Gregg’s sophomore season with the World of Outlaws has him solidly in the Top 15 through nine races as he begins racing at some tracks for only the second time in his career.
NOTEBOOK
Winners: There have been nine World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature events in 2011. The winners include: Steve Kinser – 4 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 11 and 12, Pike County Raceway on Feb. 25, the Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 4), Joey Saldana – 2 (Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 19) Craig Dollansky – 1 (Silver Dollar Speedway on March 12), Jason Sides – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13), Sammy Swindell – 1 (Royal Purple Raceway on Feb. 26).
Podcast: Be sure to check out the all new official Podcast of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, Outlaws Unleashed, in the iTunes store or at www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
Tune in: Listen live as the Voice of the Outlaws, Johnny Gibson, calls the action at all World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events on the DIRT Radio Network, with a number of events throughout the season being featured on the DIRTVision Cybercast. Visit www.DIRTVision.com for more information on all the features, including updated results from each night of racing as well as a chat room to interact with other fans listening to the racing action.
Blogging: Want to know what goes on after the checkered flag waves and before the next event begins? Make sure to check out the blog by World of Outlaws PR Coordinator Kyle Luetters each week at www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
On the Web: The all new Official World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Web site is at http://www.WorldofOutlaws.com and includes driver biographies with statistics and pictures, race-by-race stats, detailed track information and race coverage, series news and team press releases.
Up next: “The Greatest Show on Dirt” wraps up its California Spring Break with events on Thursday, March 31 (rain date make up for A-main) at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway; Friday, April 1, at Merced Speedway; and Saturday, April 2, at Calistoga Speedway. The series then heads back to the Midwest for events on Friday, April 15, at Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway and Saturday, April 16, at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.
2011 STAT ATTACK
There have been nine World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature events this season, plus qualifying for Thursday’s event Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway.
A-Feature winners (5 different drivers)
Driver, Hometown – Wins
1- Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 4
2- Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Ind. – 2
3- Craig Dollasnky, Elk River, Minn. – 1
Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
Lap leaders (8 different drivers)
Driver, Hometown – Total laps led
1- Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 87 laps
2- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minn. – 86 laps
3- Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Ind. – 41 laps
4- Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn. – 32 laps
5- Cody Darrah, Red Lion, Pa. – 12 laps
Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW – 12 laps
7- Chad Kemenah, Findlay, Ohio – 8 laps
8- Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 6 laps
Time trial leaders (7 different drivers – includes Hanford qualifying)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Quick times
1- Paul McMahan, Nashville, Tenn. – 3
Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Ind. – 2
3- Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
Jason Meyers, Clovis, Calif. – 1
Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
Pole Positions (8 different drivers – includes Hanford qualifying)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Poles
1- Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 2
Jason Meyers, Clovis, Calif. – 2
3- David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1
Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa – 1
Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1
Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
Last Chance Showdown Winners (7 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1- Cody Darrah, Red Lion, Pa. – 2
2- Brian Ellenberger, Butler, Pa. – 1
Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minn. – 1
Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1
Jason Meyers, Clovis, Calif. – 1
Bill Rose, Plainfield, Ind. – 1
Tommy Tarlton, Fresno, Calif. – 1
2011 TOP 20 DRIVER STANDINGS (Through Thunderbowl Raceway, 3-19-2011)
Pos.
Driver
Total
Diff
W
T5
T10
QT
1.
Steve Kinser
1280
4
5
8
1
2.
Joey Saldana
1280
–
2
7
8
2
3.
Jason Meyers
1226
-54
0
3
7
1
4.
Donny Schatz
1217
-63
0
5
5
1
5.
Sammy Swindell
1194
-86
1
5
5
1
6.
Jason Sides
1187
-93
1
4
6
1
7.
Cody Darrah
1167
-113
0
4
4
0
8.
Paul McMahan
1161
-119
0
2
5
3
9.
Craig Dollansky
1153
-127
1
3
5
0
10.
Lucas Wolfe
1130
-150
0
0
5
0
11.
Kraig Kinser
1125
-155
0
1
3
0
12.
Chad Kemenah
1096
-184
0
1
2
0
13.
Bill Rose
981
-299
0
0
0
0
14.
Ben Gregg
939
-341
0
0
0
0
15.
Lance Dewease
854
-426
0
0
2
0
16.
Terry McCarl
804
-476
0
0
1
0
17.
Danny Lasoski
647
-633
0
1
3
0
18.
Sam Hafertepe Jr.
630
-650
0
0
3
0
19.
David Gravel
524
-756
0
1
1
0
20.
Jac Haudenschild
498
-782
0
1
2
0
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), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Chizmark & Larson Insurance
,
Goodyear Tires (Official Tire), Factory Value Parts, VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), Vicci (Official Apparel); in addition to contingency sponsors, Jake’s Custom Golf Carts, RacingJunk.com KSE Race Products, 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