By Kyle Luetters
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — July 22, 2011 — Greg Hodnett put one on the World of Outlaws again Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway. For the seventh time in his career at the historic Mechanicsburg speedway, Hodnett beat the Outlaws on the opening night of the Summer Nationals by getting around Steve Kinser on Lap 5 and holding him off the rest of the way.
However, the night wasn’t a total loss for The Greatest Show on Dirt. In the inaugural Morgan Cup Challenge — a unique race where five Pennsylvania Posse racers squared off against five World of Outlaws competitors in a 12-lap dash — it was the Outlaws’ Jason Sides dominating the event and earning the sterling silver Morgan Cup trophy, which will reside in the World of Outlaws offices in Concord, N.C., until next year’s race.
Hodnett was the big winner on the night, though. Kinser started on the pole in the 25-lap A-main and set the pace early. Then on the fifth circuit, Hodnett finished his move from fourth to the front when he muscled past the 20-time Outlaws champion by diving underneath and holding on.
“Steve is one heckuva competitor,” said Hodnett, of Thomasville, Pa., who won at Williams Grove for the first time this season. “The pill draw really helped us out tonight since we got to (qualify) early. We did well in our heat which got us into the dash and that always helps when it comes to the A-main. I knew that if I could get to the middle-bottom on Steve, I had a chance. The track was great all night long and it just feels so good to get a win here.”
Kinser settled for second with Williams Grove Spring Nationals winner Daryn Pittman in third. Veterans Sammy Swindell and Fred Rahmer rounded out the Top 5.
Chad Kemenah was quickest in qualifying to start the night and was running in the Top 5 until steering issues forced him out on Lap 13. A scary moment occurred early in the second heat race when NASCAR star Kasey Kahne and Craig Dollansky got together in Turn 4. The contact sent Kahne tumbling but the World of Outlaws team owner emerged unharmed.
As the confetti and flash bulbs for Hodnett’s impressive win died down, drivers and teams were back to work for the first Morgan Cup Challenge race. The 12-lap race was designed as a “best of the best” showdown between the World of Outlaws and the Pennsylvania Posse, based on how drivers finished in last fall’s National Open. An $11,000 purse was on the line in addition to the sterling silver Morgan Cup and perhaps most importantly bragging rights. The top Posse competitor, Lance Dewease, selected the bottom groove for his team. World of Outlaws leader Jason Meyers led the Outlaws but was a little eager on the initial start and was sent back a row, putting Sides in the perfect position. Once the green flew again, it was all Sides as he ran off from the field and claimed the first ever Morgan Cup Challenge while Meyers and Stevie Smith waged a battle for second and third.
“This was just cool,” said Sides, a four-time winner with the Outlaws this season from Bartlett, Tenn. “It makes up a bit for the feature since we didn’t do so great there. I don’t know when exactly the Outlaws will get this Morgan Cup trophy. I’m the one that drove my rear end off for it and might just keep it through Canada.”
Smith wound up second with Meyers in third and Dewease and Hodnett rounding out the Top 5.
The Outlaws continue their Pennsylvania swing to with the second night of the Summer Nationals extravaganza at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY NOTEBOOK
QUICK TIME – Chad Kemenah was the night’s fastest qualifier with a lap around the half-mile oval in 17.213 seconds, earning five championship points. Cody Darrah, Brian Leppo, Paul McMahan and Daryn Pittmanalso earned qualifying points. It marked Kemenah’s third Quick Time of the season.
WINNERS – There have been 34 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature events in 2011. The winners include: Craig Dollansky – 5 (Silver Dollar Speedway on March 12, Salina Highbanks Speedway on May 3, River Cities Speedway on June 17 and 18, Dodge City Raceway Park on July 1); Steve Kinser – 5 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 11 and 12, Pike County Raceway on Feb. 25, the Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 4, Lakeside Speedway on June 4); Sammy Swindell – 4 (Royal Purple Raceway on Feb. 26, Merced Speedway on April 1, Tri-State Speedway on April 30, Knoxville Raceway on June 11); Joey Saldana – 4 (Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 19, Eldora Speedway on May 6, Beaver Dam Raceway on July 9); Jason Sides – 4 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Calistoga Speedway on April 2, I-96 Speedway on May 30, Dodge City Raceway Park on July 2); Donny Schatz – 3 (Attica Raceway Park on May 20, Princeton Speedway on June 25, Limaland Motorsports Park on July 13); Paul McMahan – 2 (the Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 28, Belleville Highbanks on June 3); Tim Shaffer – 2 (Eldora Speedway on July 15, Lernerville Speedway on July 19); Dale Blaney – 1 (Lernerville Speedway on July 19); Greg Hodnett – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on July 22); Jason Meyers – 1 (Cedar Lake Speedway on July 8); Daryn Pittman – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 13); Tyler Walker – 1 (Eldora Speedway on July 16.)
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.; July 22, 2011
A-Main — (25 Laps) — 1. 39-Greg Hodnett [4] [$8,000]; 2. 11-Steve Kinser [1] [$4,000]; 3. 27-Daryn Pittman [3] [$2,500]; 4. 1-Sammy Swindell [9] [$2,200]; 5. 51-Fred Rahmer [15] [$2,100]; 6. 30C-Lance Dewease [6] [$2,000]; 7. 93-Sam Hafertepe Jr. [13] [$1,800]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [19] [$1,600]; 9. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [2] [$1,500]; 10. 7S-Jason Sides [17] [$1,300]; 11. 87-Alan Krimes [21] [$1,200]; 12. 15A-Adam Wilt [18] [$1,100]; 13. 17-Tyler Walker [22] [$1,000]; 14. 9-Brad Sweet [23] [$700]; 15. 83-Paul McMahan [11] [$600]; 16. 21-Brian Montieth [24] [$600]; 17. 71-Brian Leppo [5] [$600]; 18. 7-Craig Dollansky [25] [$]; 19. 14-Jason Meyers [12] [$600]; 20. 91-Cody Darrah [8] [$600]; 21. 6-Kraig Kinser [16] [$600]; 22. 1Z-Stevie Smith [14] [$600]; 23. 30-Doug Esh [26] [$]; 24. 63-Chad Kemenah [7] [$600]; 25. 92-Kerry Madsen [10] [$600]; 26. 59-Jim Siegel [20] [$600]. Lap Leaders: Steve Kinser 1-4, Greg Hodnett 5-25. KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz [+11]
Qualifying – 1. 63-Chad Kemenah, 17.213; 2. 91-Cody Darrah, 17.253; 3. 71-Brian Leppo, 17.277; 4. 83-Paul McMahan, 17.279; 5. 27-Daryn Pittman, 17.288; 6. 49-Kasey Kahne, 17.298; 7. 14-Jason Meyers, 17.298; 8. 93-Sam Hafertepe Jr., 17.321; 9. 11-Steve Kinser, 17.330; 10. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 17.331; 11. 92-Kerry Madsen, 17.332; 12. 39-Greg Hodnett, 17.336; 13. 1Z-Stevie Smith, 17.344; 14. 30C-Lance Dewease, 17.375; 15. 51-Fred Rahmer, 17.398; 16. 1-Sammy Swindell, 17.415; 17. 6-Kraig Kinser, 17.433; 18. 7S-Jason Sides, 17.446; 19. 15A-Adam Wilt, 17.456; 20. 15-Donny Schatz, 17.465; 21. 59-Jim Siegel, 17.469; 22. 7-Craig Dollansky, 17.486; 23. 87-Alan Krimes, 17.488; 24. 48-Danny Dietrich, 17.505; 25. 17-Tyler Walker, 17.527; 26. 9-Brad Sweet, 17.528; 27. 69K-Donald Kreitz Jr., 17.576; 28. 7L-Chad Layton, 17.582; 29. 77-Aaron Ott, 17.615; 30. 30-Doug Esh, 17.618; 31. 21-Brian Montieth, 17.622; 32. 35-Justin Henderson, 17.624; 33. 44W-Austen Wheatley, 17.683; 34. 19M-Brent Marks, 17.695; 35. 6R-Bill Rose, 17.733; 36. 7M-Mark Smith, 17.737; 37. 20S-Derek Sell, 17.799; 38. 2B-Ben Gregg, 17.815; 39. 11C-Cory Haas, 17.825; 40. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 17.865; 41. 11E-Mike Erdley, 17.917; 42. 44-Frank Cozze, 18.066; 43. 2-Ryan Bohlke, 18.067; 44. 12W-Troy Fraker, 18.582
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 11-Steve Kinser [2]; 2. 27-Daryn Pittman [3]; 3. 1Z-Stevie Smith [1]; 4. 17-Tyler Walker [7]; 5. 63-Chad Kemenah [4]; 6. 6-Kraig Kinser [5]; 7. 77-Aaron Ott [8]; 8. 59-Jim Siegel [6]; 9. 20S-Derek Sell [10]; 10. 44W-Austen Wheatley [9]; 11. 11E-Mike Erdley [11]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [2]; 2. 30C-Lance Dewease [1]; 3. 7S-Jason Sides [5]; 4. 91-Cody Darrah [4]; 5. 9-Brad Sweet [7]; 6. 30-Doug Esh [8]; 7. 7-Craig Dollansky [6]; 8. 44-Frank Cozze [11]; 9. 2B-Ben Gregg [10]; 10. 19M-Brent Marks [9]; 11. 49-Kasey Kahne [3]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 71-Brian Leppo [4]; 2. 92-Kerry Madsen [2]; 3. 14-Jason Meyers [3]; 4. 51-Fred Rahmer [1]; 5. 21-Brian Montieth [8]; 6. 15A-Adam Wilt [5]; 7. 87-Alan Krimes [6]; 8. 11C-Cory Haas [10]; 9. 2-Ryan Bohlke [11]; 10. 6R-Bill Rose [9]; 11. 69K-Donald Kreitz Jr. [7]
Heat 4 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 1-Sammy Swindell [1]; 2. 39-Greg Hodnett [2]; 3. 83-Paul McMahan [4]; 4. 93-Sam Hafertepe Jr. [3]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [5]; 6. 7L-Chad Layton [7]; 7. 48-Danny Dietrich [6]; 8. 7M-Mark Smith [9]; 9. 35-Justin Henderson [8]; 10. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [10]; 11. 12W-Troy Fraker [11]
Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature) – 1. 11-Steve Kinser [2]; 2. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [1]; 3. 27-Daryn Pittman [3]; 4. 39-Greg Hodnett [8]; 5. 71-Brian Leppo [4]; 6. 30C-Lance Dewease [9]; 7. 63-Chad Kemenah [6]; 8. 91-Cody Darrah [5]; 9. 1-Sammy Swindell [10]; 10. 92-Kerry Madsen [7]
C-Main – (10 Laps – Top 2 finishers transfer to the B-feature) – 1. 2B-Ben Gregg [3] [-]; 2. 11C-Cory Haas [4] [-]; 3. 49-Kasey Kahne [10] [$125]; 4. 20S-Derek Sell [2] [$125]; 5. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [5] [$125]; 6. 44-Frank Cozze [7] [$100]; 7. 12W-Troy Fraker [9] [$100]; 8. 7M-Mark Smith [1] [$100]; 9. 11E-Mike Erdley [6] [$100]; 10. 2-Ryan Bohlke [8] [$100]
B-Main – (12 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 6-Kraig Kinser [1] [-]; 2. 87-Alan Krimes [5] [-]; 3. 59-Jim Siegel [3] [-]; 4. 15A-Adam Wilt [2] [-]; 5. 30-Doug Esh [10] [$200]; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich [6] [$180]; 7. 35-Justin Henderson [11] [$175]; 8. 7L-Chad Layton [8] [$160]; 9. 77-Aaron Ott [9] [$150]; 10. 69K-Donald Kreitz Jr. [7] [$150]; 11. 2B-Ben Gregg [15] [$150]; 12. 6R-Bill Rose [14] [$150]; 13. 7-Craig Dollansky [4] [$150]; 14. 19M-Brent Marks [13] [$150]; 15. 11C-Cory Haas [16] [$150]; 16. 44W-Austen Wheatley [12] [$150].
Morgan Cup Challenge – (12 laps) – 1. 7S- Jason Sides [$4,000]; 2. 1Z- Stevie Smith [$1,500]; 3. 14-Jason Meyers [$1,100]; 4. 30C- Lance Dewease [$1,000]; 5. 39-Greg Hodnett [$900]; 6. 27-Daryn Pittman [$700]; 7. 83-Paul McMahan [$600]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [$500]; 9. 21-Brian Montieth [$400]; 10. 6- Kraig Kinser [$300].
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Points Standings, through July 22:
Pos.
Driver
Total
Diff
W
T5
T10
QT
1.
Donny Schatz
4493
3
15
26
2
2.
Jason Meyers
4486
-7
1
18
27
3
3.
Steve Kinser
4444
-49
5
15
25
1
4.
Craig Dollansky
4395
-98
5
15
22
1
5.
Jason Sides
4371
-122
4
13
23
3
6.
Joey Saldana
4353
-140
4
16
23
5
7.
Paul McMahan
4331
-162
2
9
21
8
8.
Sammy Swindell
4065
-428
4
13
19
4
9.
Cody Darrah
4039
-454
0
5
11
0
10.
Lucas Wolfe
3965
-528
0
1
10
0
11.
Chad Kemenah
3954
-539
0
2
8
3
12.
Kraig Kinser
3910
-583
0
2
10
0
13.
Bill Rose
3603
-890
0
1
2
0
14.
Kerry Madsen
2753
-1740
0
2
9
0
15.
Ben Gregg
2573
-1920
0
1
1
0
16.
Brad Sweet
2002
-2491
0
3
7
1
17.
Sam Hafertepe Jr.
1614
-2879
0
3
7
0
18.
Daryn Pittman
1331
-3162
1
3
5
0
19.
Lance Dewease
1244
-3249
0
0
3
0
20.
Jac Haudenschild
1243
-3250
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), 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 and R2C Performance; 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.