MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – May 13, 2011 – For weeks this showdown at Williams Grove Speedway featuring the nationally touring World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series taking on the Pennsylvania Posse has been brewing. It’s fitting, then, that Daryn Pittman, a driver from Oklahoma who had been on the Outlaws circuit for years before becoming a regular in the Keystone State, captured the checkered flag on Friday night in the heart of Posse Country.
(Click here for Daryn Pittman’s post-race victory interview.)
The win was Pittman’s 30th World of Outlaws main event victory to go with six preliminary feature wins, tying him with fellow Oklahoma native Andy Hillenburg. It was also the first World of Outlaws victory for car owner Mike Heffner.
“We won an Outlaw show at Williams Grove, and that’s damn hard to do,” Pittman said.
Then, as if he was attempting squash any debate before it might start, Heffner left no doubt whether or not Pittman qualifies as Posse.
“He’s from Oklahoma, but I don’t care if he’s from Mars,” an excited Heffner shouted to the crowd in Victory Lane. “This win was for Pennsylvanians. I am, so he’s got to be!”
Pittman was strong all night long, but he needed a little help from a fellow Posse driver to take the checkers. With 12 laps complete, Pittman sat third on a double-file restart following a flip by Tyler Walker in Turn 2. As the field lined up to take the green, it was determined that leader Stevie Smith took off too soon, bringing out a caution and dropping him back a row, which put Pittman on point alongside Brian Leppo.
Pittman and Leppo battled back-and-forth until Pittman finally completed a slider in Laps 1 and 2 with five to go. Pittman pulled away to win while a scramble ensued behind him. Leppo held on to finish second with Jason Sides, Stevie Smith and Steve Kinser rounding out the Top Five.
“Brian (Leppo) has been racing as hard as I have ever seen,” said Pittman, who hails from Owasso, Okla. “It was kind of a reversal of roles because a while back I had the slower car and was holding him up. I’m just really thankful we were able to get an Outlaws victory for this team.”
Leppo set quick time on a night that featured 41 Sprint Cars for the opener of a two-night event at the legendary half-mile oval. The long and heated debate of Outlaws versus Posse was the central storyline as the top two finishers represented the Posse while four of the Top 10 were touring Outlaws, led by Jason Sides.
“We were just trying to run them down at the end but couldn’t close the gap,” said Sides, of Bartlett, Tenn. “I think we learned a few things to use Saturday night, like which lines to use and how to adapt to the track as it changes.”
Sides will be one of the World of Outlaws competitors in Saturday’s inaugural Morgan Cup Challenge, along with Jason Meyers, Paul McMahan, Donny Schatz and Kraig Kinser.
The race was brought to a halt twice on the night, once for Walker’s wreck and then for a scary incident on the back straightaway when Doug Esh flipped end-over-end and hit the pedestrian bridge, which is closed to people while races are being run. Esh, of Lancaster, Pa., walked away from the incident.
It was a tough night for championship points leader Joey Saldana. The Kasey Kahne Racing star timed in 26th and eventually used a provisional to make the A-main. Saldana made up 13 positions to finish 12th and earn the KSE Hard Charger award. Steve Kinser’s fifth-place run helped to close the gap to Saldana as he now trails by only 37 points, with Schatz only 66 points behind Saldana.
The Outlaws and Posse now turn their sights to the second night of the event on Saturday, plus the first Morgan Cup Challenge race, which is scheduled to be run at the conclusion of the A-main event. With a sterling silver trophy, $11,000 purse and ultimate bragging rights on the line, the action will be intense as the storied rivalry adds a new chapter.
WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY NOTEBOOK
QUICK TIME – Brian Leppo was the night’s fastest qualifier with a lap around the half-mile oval in 17.218 seconds at 104.542 mph, earning five championship points. Chad Kemenah, Jason Sides, Sammy Swindell and Fred Rahmer also earned qualifying points.
HANFORD POINTS UPDATED – When the World of Outlaws and Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway officials were unable to find a date to make-up the event that was halted by rain on March 18, that race was finally cancelled on Wednesday. Therefore, qualifying points that had been awarded to competitors that night have been removed from the championship standings since the event will not be completed in full. No positions in the standings changed as a result.
WINNERS – There have been 15 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 – 3 (Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 19, Eldora Speedway on May 6); Sammy Swindell – 3 (Royal Purple Raceway on Feb. 26, Merced Speedway on April 1, Tri-State Speedway on April 30); Craig Dollansky – 2 (Silver Dollar Speedway on March 12, Salina Highbanks Speedway on May 3); Jason Sides – 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Calistoga Speedway on April 2); Daryn Pittman – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 13).
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; Williams Grove Speedway; Mechanicsburg, Pa.; May 13, 2011
A-Main – (25 Laps) – 1. 27-Daryn Pittman [4] [$8,000]; 2. 71-Brian Leppo [2] [$4,000]; 3. 7S-Jason Sides [3] [$2,500]; 4. 1Z-Stevie Smith [1] [$2,200]; 5. 11-Steve Kinser [6] [$2,100]; 6. 51-Fred Rahmer [12] [$2,000]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [7] [$1,800]; 8. 14-Jason Meyers [16] [$1,600]; 9. 1-Sammy Swindell [11] [$1,500]; 10. 69K-Donald Kreitz Jr. [20] [$1,300]; 11. 30C-Lance Dewease [9] [$1,200]; 12. 9-Joey Saldana [25] [$500]; 13. 35-Justin Henderson [19] [$1,000]; 14. 63-Chad Kemenah [5] [$700]; 15. 7-Craig Dollansky [27] [$0]; 16. 7L-Chad Layton [23] [$600]; 17. 15A-Adam Wilt [28] [$0]; 18. 92-Kerry Madsen [10] [$600]; 19. 83-Paul McMahan [22] [$600]; 20. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [18] [$600]; 21. 39-Greg Hodnett [24] [$600]; 22. 93-Sam Hafertepe Jr. [14] [$600]; 23. 21-Brian Montieth [15] [$600]; 24. 19M-Brent Marks [13] [$600]; 25. 91-Cody Darrah [17] [$600]; 26. 30-Doug Esh [8] [$600]; 27. 17-Tyler Walker [21] [$600]; 28. 48-Danny Dietrich [26] [$0]. Lap leaders: Stevie Smith 1-12; Brian Leppo 13-19; Daryn Pittman 20-25. KSE Hard ChargerAward: 9-Joey Saldana[+13]
Qualifying – 1. 71-Brian Leppo, 17.218; 2. 63-Chad Kemenah, 17.245; 3. 7S-Jason Sides, 17.256; 4. 1-Sammy Swindell, 17.277; 5. 51-Fred Rahmer, 17.284; 6. 19M-Brent Marks, 17.327; 7. 93-Sam Hafertepe Jr., 17.328; 8. 1Z-Stevie Smith, 17.342; 9. 30-Doug Esh, 17.387; 10. 21-Brian Montieth, 17.390; 11. 14-Jason Meyers, 17.390; 12. 75-Nicole Bower, 17.396; 13. 30C-Lance Dewease, 17.435; 14. 27-Daryn Pittman, 17.436; 15. 15-Donny Schatz, 17.441; 16. 92-Kerry Madsen, 17.449; 17. 91-Cody Darrah, 17.457; 18. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 17.459; 19. 35-Justin Henderson, 17.471; 20. 69K-Donald Kreitz Jr., 17.483; 21. 87-Alan Krimes, 17.486; 22. 11-Steve Kinser, 17.514; 23. 17-Tyler Walker, 17.515; 24. 83-Paul McMahan, 17.527; 25. 77-Aaron Ott, 17.546; 26. 9-Joey Saldana, 17.562; 27. 7L-Chad Layton, 17.570; 28. 20S-Derek Sell, 17.599; 29. 15A-Adam Wilt, 17.602; 30. 48-Danny Dietrich, 17.621; 31. 7-Craig Dollansky, 17.626; 32. 39-Greg Hodnett, 17.632; 33. 11C-Cory Haas, 17.658; 34. 2-Ryan Bohlke, 17.716; 35. 7M-Mark Smith, 17.807; 36. 6-Kraig Kinser, 17.808; 37. 6R-Bill Rose, 17.852; 38. 2B-Ben Gregg, 17.910; 39. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 17.988; 40. 8H-Keith Kauffman, 18.231; 41. 59-Jim Siegel, 19.115.
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 30-Doug Esh [2]; 2. 30C-Lance Dewease [1]; 3. 71-Brian Leppo [4]; 4. 91-Cody Darrah [5]; 5. 51-Fred Rahmer [3]; 6. 87-Alan Krimes [6]; 7. 15A-Adam Wilt [8]; 8. 77-Aaron Ott [7]; 9. 6R-Bill Rose [10]; 10. 59-Jim Siegel [11]; 11. 11C-Cory Haas [9].
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 27-Daryn Pittman [1]; 2. 11-Steve Kinser [6]; 3. 21-Brian Montieth [2]; 4. 63-Chad Kemenah [4]; 5. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [5]; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich [8]; 7. 19M-Brent Marks [3]; 8. 2-Ryan Bohlke [9]; 9. 9-Joey Saldana [7]; 10. 2B-Ben Gregg [10].
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 2. 7S-Jason Sides [4]; 3. 14-Jason Meyers [2]; 4. 7L-Chad Layton [7]; 5. 93-Sam Hafertepe Jr. [3]; 6. 17-Tyler Walker [6]; 7. 7-Craig Dollansky [8]; 8. 35-Justin Henderson [5]; 9. 7M-Mark Smith [9].
Heat 4 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 92-Kerry Madsen [1]; 2. 1Z-Stevie Smith [3]; 3. 1-Sammy Swindell [4]; 4. 83-Paul McMahan [6]; 5. 39-Greg Hodnett [8]; 6. 75-Nicole Bower [2]; 7. 69K-Donald Kreitz Jr. [5]; 8. 6-Kraig Kinser [9]; 9. 8H-Keith Kauffman [10]; 10. 20S-Derek Sell [7].
Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature) – 1. 1Z-Stevie Smith [1]; 2. 71-Brian Leppo [4]; 3. 7S-Jason Sides [2]; 4. 27-Daryn Pittman [7]; 5. 63-Chad Kemenah [3]; 6. 11-Steve Kinser [10]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [8]; 8. 30-Doug Esh [5]; 9. 30C-Lance Dewease [6]; 10. 92-Kerry Madsen [9].
B-Main – (12 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 19M-Brent Marks [1]; 2. 17-Tyler Walker [6]; 3. 69K-Donald Kreitz Jr. [4]; 4. 35-Justin Henderson [3]; 5. 9-Joey Saldana [8] [$200]; 6. 77-Aaron Ott [7] [$180]; 7. 7-Craig Dollansky [11] [$175]; 8. 11C-Cory Haas [12] [$160]; 9. 15A-Adam Wilt [9] [$150]; 10. 75-Nicole Bower [2] [$150]; 11. 7M-Mark Smith [14] [$150]; 12. 87-Alan Krimes [5] [$150]; 13. 2-Ryan Bohlke [13] [$150]; 14. 6R-Bill Rose [16] [$150]; 15. 6-Kraig Kinser [15] [$150]; 16. 59-Jim Siegel [19] [$150]; 17. 2B-Ben Gregg [17] [$150]; 18. 48-Danny Dietrich [10] [$150]; 19. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [20] [$150]; 20. 20S-Derek Sell [21] [$150]; 21. 8H-Keith Kauffman [18] [$150].
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Championship Standings, through May 13, 2011
Pos.
Driver
Total
Diff
W
T 5
T10
QT
1.
Joey Saldana
2113
3
10
12
3
2.
Steve Kinser
2076
-37
4
7
13
1
3.
Donny Schatz
2047
-66
0
8
10
1
4.
Jason Sides
2009
-104
2
7
11
1
5.
Jason Meyers
2006
-107
0
4
11
1
6.
Sammy Swindell
1993
-120
3
8
9
2
7.
Craig Dollansky
1974
-139
2
6
9
1
8.
Paul McMahan
1944
-169
0
4
8
3
9.
Cody Darrah
1927
-186
0
4
8
0
10.
Lucas Wolfe
1850
-263
0
0
6
0
11.
Kraig Kinser
1836
-277
0
2
6
0
Chad Kemenah
1836
-277
0
1
4
1
13.
Bill Rose
1658
-455
0
0
1
0
14.
Ben Gregg
1490
-623
0
0
0
0
15.
Lance Dewease
982
-1131
0
0
2
0
17.
Sam Hafertepe Jr.
884
-1229
0
1
4
0
18.
Jac Haudenschild
842
-1271
0
1
2
0
19.
Terry McCarl
804
-1309
0
0
1
0
20.
Daryn Pittman
780
-1333
1
2
3
0