By Kyle Luetters
HAUBSTADT, Ind. – April 30, 2011 – The resurgence of Sammy Swindell continued on Saturday night at Tri-State Speedway when he raced past Joey Saldana and held off Paul McMahan for his third World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory of the year.
Swindell’s brand new Big Game Treestands Maxim swept into the lead on Lap 18 of the 40-lap A-main at the quarter-mile bullring just north of Evansville, Ind., and survived five restarts during the wild event, including a green-white-checkered finish. It marked the fifth World of Outlaws victory of Swindell’s career at Tri-State Speedway and his first since 1998. It was also his ninth win overall at the track dating back to 1974.
“We’ve spent a few off-seasons running down in New Zealand on some pretty tight tracks and it has taught us a lot,” said Swindell, a three-time World of Outlaws champion from Germantown, Tenn., who also has won this year at Merced (Calif.) Speedway and Royal Purple Raceway near Houston. “Al Parker built us a great motor and we had a new Maxim here tonight so we just had to put our experience to good use and came out with a win.”
Swindell had to deal with a very strong Kasey Kahne Racing contingent of Saldana, McMahan, Cody Darrah and Brad Sweet. Saldana, who extended his lead with the Red Bull Maxim in the World of Outlaws championship standings to 15 points over 20-time series champion Steve Kinser, led a KKR sweep of the top three spots in time trials. McMahan, whose team is owned in a partnership between Dennis Roth and Kahne, had his HR Cattle Maxim on the pole for the A-main with Saldana to his outside. Once the green flag flew, Saldana opened a quick lead that would stand for the first 17 laps.
Early on a huge collective gasp arose from the packed grandstands when on Lap 9 the #7s of Jason Sides flipped high into the air at the end of the frontstretch going into Turns 1 and 2. After catching his breath, Sides emerged from the carnage under his own power, hoping the car could be repaired in time to rejoin the event.
The field was reset for a double-file restart and Saldana chose the outside line with Swindell lining up to the inside. Saldana charged out front. By Lap 15 he was in heavy traffic with Swindell bearing down on him. Three laps later Swindell caught and passed Saldana just before the third-place running car of Lucas Wolfe sustained a flat left rear tire.
Swindell guessed right on several double-file restarts that saw the likes of Wolfe, Donny Schatz, Darrah and more experience issues. He then held off McMahan in a green-white-checkered finish. It was the best result of the season for McMahan, who leads the series in qualifying with four quick-times this season.
“We had a great car tonight and my crew really did their job, ” said McMahan, who resides near Nashville, Tenn. “There were a few more things I could have done so I feel like I kind of let them down, but it sure feels good to finish up front.”
Saldana settled for third with Kraig Kinser and Craig Dollansky rounding out the Top 5. It marked the first time since 2004 that neither Dollansky nor Steve Kinser won at Tri-State Speedway after the two alternated victories the past six seasons at the bullring. Steve Kinser charged from 15 th to 6th to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award.
The World of Outlaws now turn their sights on Tuesday (May 3) to the ‘Battle of the Highbanks’ for the series debut at the Salina (Okla.) Highbanks Speedway. The event was originally scheduled for April 23.
TRI-STATE SPEEDWAY NOTEBOOK
QUICK TIME – Joey Saldana was the night’s fastest qualifier, circling the quarter-mile oval in 12.101 seconds to earn five points in the championship standings. Cody Darrah, Paul McMahan, Lucas Wolfe and Sammy Swindell also earned qualifying points.
TV TIME – Jason Sides, a two-time winner already this season, will have a chance to relive his wild ride on Lap 9 when he appears Sunday night on “Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain” at 9 p.m. Eastern/8 p.m. Central on SPEED. Sides will appear via satellite from his shop near Memphis, Tenn.
WINNERS – There have been 12 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); Sammy Swindell – 3 (Royal Purple Raceway on Feb. 26, Merced Speedway on April 1 and Tri-State Speedway on April 30); Joey Saldana – 2 (Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 19); Jason Sides – 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Calistoga Speedway on April 2); Craig Dollansky – 1 (Silver Dollar Speedway on March 12).
NEW ONLINE HOME – Make sure to check out the all-new WorldofOutlaws.com for the latest news and results, plus exclusive driver interviews, video and pictures. Also listen to every event live at DIRTVision.com
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Tri-State Speedway; Haubstadt, Ind.; April 30, 2011
A-Main – (40 Laps) – 1. 1-Sammy Swindell [4] [$10,000]; 2. 83-Paul McMahan [1] [$5,500]; 3. 9-Joey Saldana [2] [$3,200]; 4. 6-Kraig Kinser [10] [$2,800]; 5. 7-Craig Dollansky [11] [$2,500]; 6. 11-Steve Kinser [15] [$2,300]; 7. 6R-Bill Rose [14] [$2,200]; 8. 91-Cody Darrah [3] [$2,100]; 9. 63-Chad Kemenah [12] [$2,050]; 10. 71M-Paul May [13] [$2,000]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz [9] [$1,500]; 12. 14-Jason Meyers [8] [$1,200]; 13. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [5] [$1,100]; 14. 49-Brad Sweet [7] [$1,050]; 15. 32-Chase Stockon [21] [$1,000]; 16. 2B-Ben Gregg [20] [$900]; 17. 7TW-Brandon Wimmer [24] [$800]; 18. 11X-Geoff Dodge [16] [$800]; 19. 48-Ty Deckard [17] [$800]; 20. 51-Lee Sowell [22] [$800]; 21. 4B-Chase Briscoe [19] [$800]; 22. 7S-Jason Sides [6] [$800]; 23. 4K-Kody Kinser [18] [$800]; 24. 1X-Kurt Gross [23] [$800]. Lap Leaders: Joey Saldana 1-17, Sammy Swindell 18-40.
KSE Hard Charger Award: 11-Steve Kinser[+9].
Qualifying – 1. 9-Joey Saldana, 12.101; 2. 91-Cody Darrah, 12.105; 3. 83-Paul McMahan, 12.120; 4. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 12.184; 5. 1-Sammy Swindell, 12.209; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.228; 7. 7-Craig Dollansky, 12.260; 8. 14-Jason Meyers, 12.263; 9. 7TW-Brandon Wimmer, 12.273; 10. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.306; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.331; 12. 6-Kraig Kinser, 12.448; 13. 63-Chad Kemenah, 12.459; 14. 71M-Paul May, 12.461; 15. 6R-Bill Rose, 12.464; 16. 11-Steve Kinser, 12.470; 17. 11X-Geoff Dodge, 12.470; 18. 48-Ty Deckard, 12.520; 19. 4K-Kody Kinser, 12.538; 20. 4B-Chase Briscoe, 12.571; 21. 2B-Ben Gregg, 12.692; 22. 32-Chase Stockon, 12.991; 23. 51-Lee Sowell, 13.044; 24. 1X-Kurt Gross, 13.076.
Heat 1 – (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 7S-Jason Sides [1]; 2. 9-Joey Saldana [4]; 3. 7-Craig Dollansky [2]; 4. 11-Steve Kinser [6]; 5. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [3]; 6. 63-Chad Kemenah [5]; 7. 32-Chase Stockon [8]; 8. 4K-Kody Kinser [7].
Heat 2 – (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 2. 14-Jason Meyers [2]; 3. 1-Sammy Swindell [3]; 4. 91-Cody Darrah [4]; 5. 71M-Paul May [5]; 6. 11X-Geoff Dodge [6]; 7. 51-Lee Sowell [8]; 8. 4B-Chase Briscoe [7].
Heat 3 – (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 6-Kraig Kinser [1]; 2. 83-Paul McMahan [4]; 3. 7TW-Brandon Wimmer [2]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [3]; 5. 6R-Bill Rose [5]; 6. 48-Ty Deckard [6]; 7. 2B-Ben Gregg [7]; 8. 1X-Kurt Gross [8].
Dash – (8 Laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature – 1. 83-Paul McMahan [2]; 2. 9-Joey Saldana [4]; 3. 91-Cody Darrah [3]; 4. 1-Sammy Swindell [5]; 5. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [1]; 6. 7S-Jason Sides [8]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet [6]; 8. 14-Jason Meyers [7]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz [9]; 10. 6-Kraig Kinser [10].
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Championship Standings (Through Tri-State Speedway, 4-30-2011)
Pos.
Driver
Total
Diff
Wins
T5
T10
QT
1.
Joey Saldana
1,695
2
9
10
3
2.
Steve Kinser
1,680
-15
4
5
11
1
3.
Jason Meyers
1,627
-68
0
4
9
1
4.
Donny Schatz
1,621
-74
0
6
7
1
5.
Sammy Swindell
1,618
-77
3
7
7
2
6.
Jason Sides
1,589
-106
2
6
8
1
7.
Paul McMahan
1,579
-116
0
3
7
4
8.
Craig Dollansky
1,571
-124
1
5
7
0
9.
Cody Darrah
1,565
-130
0
4
6
0
10.
Lucas Wolfe
1,516
-179
0
0
6
0
11.
Kraig Kinser
1,509
-186
0
2
5
0
12.
Chad Kemenah
1,448
-247
0
1
3
0
13.
Bill Rose
1,357
-338
0
0
1
0
14.
Ben Gregg
1,234
-461
0
0
0
0
15.
Lance Dewease
854
-841
0
0
2
0
16.
Terry McCarl
804
-891
0
0
1
0
17.
Jac Haudenschild
734
-961
0
1
2
0
18.
Tim Kaeding
648
-1,047
0
1
3
0
19.
Danny Lasoski
647
-1,048
0
1
3
0
20.
Trey Starks
645
-1,050
0
0
0
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), Goodyear Tires (Official Tire), Chizmark & Larson Insurance , Factory Motor 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.