By Bill Klingbeil
INDIANAPOLIS (July 19, 2011) – The rivalry between the World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car Series and the famed “Pennsylvania Posse” has been a little bit one-sided as of late. This weekend, Tony Stewart Racing’s (TSR) Donny Schatz and Steve Kinser are hoping to lead the Outlaws brigade back to victory lane at historic Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. This weekend’s Summer Nationals and inaugural Morgan Cup offer three opportunities for the Outlaws to reclaim victory lane in Pennsylvania before concluding the weekend with their only stop of the season in New York at Lebanon (N.Y.) Valley Speedway.
For years, regional Sprint car racers have tried to ambush the WoO stars when they come to town. The central Pennsylvania region has been the toughest on the traveling Winged Sprint car drivers through the years, and the Posse’s recent run of 10 wins in the last 11 races at Williams Grove has allowed it to regain some bragging rights. Kinser, who will drive the TSR No. 11 Bass Pro Shops/J.D. Byrider/Chevrolet Maxim, and Schatz, driver of the TSR No. 15 STP/Armor All/Chevrolet J&J, each has had his share of runs through Pennsylvania in which he seemed unstoppable.
Kinser has started more than 150 WoO A-Features at the famed half-mile dirt oval and the 20-time WoO champion has won 37 times. His most recent win came in May 2008 and, earlier this season, he raced to a fifth-place finish in the 25-lap A-Feature on May 13.
Schatz has 15 career wins at the track during his 15-year WoO career, and seven of those have come during the Summer Nationals. In 2007, he won five of seven shows at “The Grove,” winning the Spring Nationals, the $25,000 Summer Nationals finale and $50,000 National Open. Schatz is the last WoO regular driver to race to victory at Williams Grove, and that came when the four-time WoO champion won the 2008 Summer Nationals finale.
Last week, the Outlaws’ “Month of Money” kicked off in Ohio and continues through Pennsylvania this week. Schatz won last week’s Wednesday-night Brad Doty Classic at Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima, Ohio, and then scored a pair of top-10s during the Kings Royal weekend races at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway. Kinser finished second this past Tuesday night at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., during the second Silver Cup 30-lap A-Feature event. Saturday’s $20,000 top prize for the Summer Nationals winner follows the $50,000 paid out for last Saturday’s Kings Royal and the two $15,000 winner’s checks paid out on Tuesday in the Silver Cup. The “Month of Money” concludes Aug. 8-13 with the 51st annual Goodyear Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals that will pay the winner $150,000.
Schatz and Kinser continue to play key roles in the battle for the 2011 WoO championship. Schatz has 4,359 points through 32 races and trails leader Jason Meyers by 15 markers. He has earned three wins, 15 top-fives and 25 top-10s. Kinser, whose five wins are tied for most in 2011, ranks third with 4,298 points, 14 top-fives and 24 top-10s.
Friday and Saturday at Williams Grove Speedway, the pit gates will open at 3:30 p.m. EDT, with the grandstands opening at 5:45 p.m. Time trials are scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m. More details are available by calling Williams Grove Speedway at (717) 697-5000, or visit www.williamsgrove.com.
Sunday at Lebanon Valley Speedway, the pit gates will open at 2 p.m. EDT, with the grandstands opening at 4 p.m. Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. For ticket information, visit www.lebanonvalley.com.
Race fans unable to attend this weekend’s races can catch all of the action on DIRTVision.com. Fans can listen live as Johnny Gibson, “Voice of the Outlaws,” calls the action as he does at all WoO Sprint Series events on the DIRTVision.com cybercast, as well as on the DIRT Radio Network. Go to www.DIRTVision.com for more information on all the site features, including updated results from each night of racing, as well as a chat room to interact with other race fans.
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Tony Stewart Racing – Summer Eastern Swing Advance Page Two
Steve Kinser, Driver of the No. 11 TSR/Bass Pro Shops/Chevy/J.D. Byrider Maxim:
The “Month of Money” has begun and you are still looking to win one of the high-paying races. How tough was finishing second in Tuesday night’s second Silver Cup feature.
“I just made a mistake and let one get away from me. The guys had the Bass Pro Shops car really nice and I was able to get the lead and felt pretty good. The race was 30 laps. I made a mistake with two to go and got beat. We only have a few of these races that pay a little more than normal and you hate to let them slip away. I guess the only thing we can do is turn our attention to this weekend and see if we can make up for it.”
You’ve raced some of the best competition all around the world. What makes the teams from central Pennsylvania so tough?
“They have a lot of drivers who have spent some time racing on the road with the Outlaws in the past and their car owners provide them with top-notch equipment. That’s a pretty good combination, and they race quite a bit at their tracks. They can qualify and race pretty well, too. I’m sure, over the years, that area of the country has produced more than its share of top drivers and teams. We enjoy the competition and challenge that comes with it.”
Donny Schatz, Driver of the No. 15 TSR/Armor All/Chevy/ParkerStore J&J:
You are in the midst of the busiest part of the 2011 schedule. What does it take to be consistent when you are racing as much as you will be during the next couple of weeks?
“It’s about teamwork and being prepared. We are racers and this is our time to thrive. The schedule we have for July is what we are all used to – a lot of races at different tracks. That’s what this series is all about. You have to be good no matter where you are and that starts with preparation. The STP guys worked hard all winter and spring so we could be ready right now. This part of the season is when you can really gain a lot of momentum. That’s what we’re trying to make sure happens.”
Williams Grove Speedway is one of the toughest tracks on the circuit to be successful. In the past, you’ve done pretty well there, but it’s been a couple of years since your last win. What is it going to take to return to victory lane there?
“There are a lot of things that have to go right to win there. There are quite a few good cars that compete there regularly and it’s something where we have to be really good every time we hit the track. Qualifying is really important. If you can get yourself a good lap, then the rest of the evening goes much smoother. The heat races are tough and you have to go right away. The biggest thing is putting yourself in a position to be challenging for the win late in the race. That’s our goal. Like I said, there are a lot of steps in doing that, but we just take them one at time. We have two nights to keep getting better and, hopefully, we’ll get started with a good qualifying lap on Friday night and just build on it from there.”
About Armored AutoGroup
Armored AutoGroup Inc., headquartered in Danbury, CT, is primarily comprised of the Armor All® and STP® brands. Armor All’s® current product line of protectants, wipes, tire and wheel care products, glass cleaners, leather care products and washes is designed to clean, shine and protect interior and exterior automobile surfaces. STP’s® offering of oil and fuel additives, functional fluids and automotive appearance products has a broad customer base ranging from professional racers to car enthusiasts and ‘‘Do-it-Yourselfers’’. The company has a diversified geographic footprint with direct operations in the United States, Canada, Australia and the U.K. and distributor relationships in approximately 50 countries. For more information, please visit www.armorall.com and www.stp.com.
About Bass Pro Shops Group
Bass Pro Shops – 56 retail stores in 26 states and Canada visited by over 109 million people annually, international catalog and internet retailing, American Rod & Gun wholesale division selling to over 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide, Outdoor World Incentives also selling Bass Pro Shops gift cards through over 132,000 retail outlets across America and a restaurant division with 26 locations. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog call 1-800-BASS PRO.
Tracker Marine Group – Manufactures and sells Tracker, Nitro, SunTracker, Tahoe, Grizzly and Mako boats through Bass Pro Shops retail stores and over 400 dealers worldwide.
Visit www.trackerboats.com
Resort Group – Big Cedar Lodge and other resort properties including restaurants and golf course. Visit www.bigcedar.com for more information.
-www.TonyStewartRacing.com-