By Kyle Luetters
CONCORD, N.C — November 4, 2011 — Even though he won’t claim a fifth series title this season, Donny Schatz is ending 2011 in a high note. Coming into the Lowes Foods World Finals presented by Tom’s Snacks, Coca-Cola and Nature’s Own, Schatz holds a slim lead over teammate Steve Kinser for the second spot in the series standings. A strong qualifying effort propelled Schatz to the pole of the night’s feature event where he led all thirty laps to secure his fifth career win at the Dirt Track at Charlotte.
“It feels really good to come out here and win to close out the season,” said Schatz, who now has a 17 point advantage over Kinser. “The track held up really well considering the weather we’ve had here all day and the fact that we’ve also had the Late Models and Big Block Modifieds running with us. We were very good from the get go and the restarts did help us. These STP guys deserve to be in victory lane a whole lot more. We’ll take this one tonight and try to get back here again to close out the season.”
One driver who wasn’t happy to see the restarts was Sammy Swindell. The Germantown, Tenn. native started the night’s feature event ninth and had taken the top spot at lap sixteen. Schatz fought back and regained the top spot as lap traffic held up the leaders.
“We certainly were better on the longer runs,” said Swindell. ”Those restarts towards the end hurt us. When we had the red for a fuel stop, I think Donny must have made some changes or found something. We didn’t make any adjustments and he seemed to be able to get going pretty quick after we fired up again. It was a good night for us though. Just came up a little bit short.”
As Schatz and Swindell raced away from the field in the latter stages of the event, the battle was on for third as both Jason Meyers and Craig Dollansky looked to use the outside to hold onto the spot. In the end, it was Meyers who secured the spot and the 2011 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series title.
“The outside was the place to be,” said Meyers, a Clovis, Calif. native. ”Craig and I had a great battle going and kept swapping the spot back and forth for awhile. We did really well here last year when we won both races but something felt like it was missing tonight. I searched around to find a spot that would help me pick up some time and I did for awhile. Eventually Donny found it as well and was awesome around it so there wasn’t much we could do.”
Dollansky crossed the line in fourth with Kasey Kahne Racing star, Joey Saldana, rounding out the top-5. Greg Hodnett appeared to have a strong machine early on as he started on the outside pole but mechanical issues slowed his #39 sprinter and dropped him to a 20th place finish. Ian Madsen crashed hard into the front stretch wall on a restart at lap five. Madsen, filling in for the injured Bill Rose, was taken to a nearby hospital for further observation.
The 2011 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series concludes with the final night of the 5th annual Lowes Foods World Finals presented by Tom’s Snacks, Coca-Cola and Nature’s Own at the Dirt Track at Charlotte. Champions from the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws Late Models Series and Super DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds will be crowned at the end of the night. SPEED TV will begin live coverage of the event at 8 P.M. EST with Ralph Sheheen, Brad Doty and Shane Andrews in the booth. Roger Slack and Bobby Gerould will report from the pits during the four hour television event.
THE DIRT TRACK AT CHARLOTTE NOTEBOOK
WINNERS – There have been 64 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature events in 2011. The winners include: Craig Dollansky – 9 (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, Lebanon Valley Speedway on July 24, I-55 Raceway on August 6, Skagit Speedway on September 2, Clay County Fair Speedway on September 16); Steve Kinser – 9 (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, River Cities Speedway on August 19, Huset’s Speedway on August 20, Antioch Speedway on September 12, Deer Creek Speedway on September 17); Jason Meyers – 9 (Cedar Lake Speedway on July 8, Williams Grove Speedway on July 23, Autodrome Drummond on July 30, Castrol Raceway on August 26, Lernerville Speedway on September 24, Williams Grove Speedway on September 30, Williams Grove Speedway on October 7, Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on October 8, Fremont Speedway on October 15); Donny Schatz – 7 (Attica Raceway Park on May 20, Princeton Speedway on June 25, Limaland Motorsports Park on July 13, Bloomington Speedway on August 5, Knoxville Raceway on August 13, Black Hills Speedway on August 23, the Dirt Track at Charlotte on November 4); Joey Saldana – 6 (Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 19, Eldora Speedway on May 6, Beaver Dam Raceway on July 9, Hartford Motor Speedway on September 21, Eldora Speedway on September 23); Paul McMahan – 4 (the Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 28, Belleville Highbanks on June 3, Brockville-Ontario Speedway on July 29, Silver Dollar Speedway on September 9); 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); 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); Tim Shaffer – 2 (Eldora Speedway on July 15, Lernerville Speedway on July 19); Dale Blaney – 1 (Lernerville Speedway on July 19); Cody Darrah – 1 (Castrol Raceway on august 27); David Gravel – 1 (Talladega Short Track on October 22); Sam Hafertepe Jr. – 1 (Skagit Speedway on September 3); Greg Hodnett – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on July 22); Kraig Kinser – 1 (Cottage Grove Speedway on September 5); Kyle Larson – 1 (Silver Dollar Speedway on September 10); Daryn Pittman – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 13); Tony Stewart – 1 (Oshweken Speedway on July 27); Tyler Walker – 1 (Eldora Speedway on July 16.)
TIME TRIALS– Sam Hafertepe Jr. was the fastest qualifier around the 4/10th’s mile oval with a time of 12.667 seconds and earned five championship points. Also earning points were Steve Kinser, Dale Blaney, Craig Dollansky and Jason Meyers. It marked Hafertepe Jr.’s second Quick Time of the season.
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World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; The Dirt Track at Charlotte; Concord , N.C; November 4, 2011
A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 15-Donny Schatz[1][$9,600]; 2. 1-Sammy Swindell[9][$5,280]; 3. 14-Jason Meyers[4][$3,072]; 4. 7-Craig Dollansky[3][$2,688]; 5. 9-Joey Saldana[15][$2,400]; 6. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[12][$2,208]; 7. 11-Steve Kinser[5][$2,112]; 8. 27-Daryn Pittman[8][$2,016]; 9. 83-Paul McMahan[7][$1,968]; 10. 63-Chad Kemenah[14][$1,920]; 11. 49-Brad Sweet[24][$1,440]; 12. 91-Cody Darrah[11][$1,152]; 13. 6-Kraig Kinser[25][$1,056]; 14. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[19][$1,008]; 15. 1Z-Jessica Zemken[10][$960]; 16. 51-Fred Rahmer[23][$864]; 17. 35-Justin Henderson[18][$768]; 18. 7S-Jason Sides[17][$768]; 19. 92-Kerry Madsen[20][$768]; 20. 39-Greg Hodnett[2][$768]; 21. 59-Brooke Tatnell[21][$768]; 22. 55-Terry McCarl[22][$768]; 23. FVP21-Brian Brown[16][$768]; 24. 6R-Ian Madsen[13][$768]; 25. 2-Dale Blaney[6]
Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-15, 17-30, Sammy Swindell 16
KSE Hard Charger Award: 49-Brad Sweet[+13]
Qualifying –
1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr., 12.667; 2. 11-Steve Kinser, 12.766; 3. 2-Dale Blaney, 12.785; 4. 7-Craig Dollansky, 12.797; 5. 14-Jason Meyers, 12.889; 6. 39-Greg Hodnett, 12.912; 7. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.915; 8. 6R-Ian Madsen, 12.929; 9. 63-Chad Kemenah, 12.940; 10. 9-Joey Saldana, 12.950; 11. FVP21-Brian Brown, 12.959; 12. O4-Cap Henry, 12.974; 13. 83-Paul McMahan, 12.978; 14. 1Z-Jessica Zemken, 12.988; 15. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.003; 16. 27-Daryn Pittman, 13.009; 17. 2L-Ed Lynch Jr., 13.012; 18. 91-Cody Darrah, 13.042; 19. 35-Justin Henderson, 13.049; 20. 1-Sammy Swindell, 13.061; 21. O-Jamie Collard, 13.062; 22. 22-Jimmy Stinson, 13.066; 23. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.067; 24. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 13.068; 25. 92-Kerry Madsen, 13.072; 26. 59-Brooke Tatnell, 13.078; 27. 55-Terry McCarl, 13.103; 28. 77X-Wayne Johnson, 13.110; 29. 51-Fred Rahmer, 13.156; 30. 6-Kraig Kinser, 13.165; 31. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.203; 32. 33-Danny Lasoski, 13.203; 33. 5-Jac Haudenschild, 13.212; 34. 4-Danny Smith, 13.229; 35. 89G-David Gravel, 13.241; 36. 83X-Tim Shaffer, 13.251; 37. D4-Danny Holtgraver, 13.295; 38. 20E-Brian Ellenberger, 13.327; 39. 23-Chris Shirek, 13.328; 40. 21-Shane Stewart, 13.356; 41. 3-Pete Miller, 13.384; 42. 16X-Bryan Sebbetto, 13.393; 43. 35R-Ronnie Blair, 13.433; 44. 12-Lynton Jeffrey, 13.489; 45. 71-Jessica Anderson, 13.518; 46. 16-Danny Mumaw, 13.522; 47. 56R-Ryan Myers, 13.612; 48. 15A-Adam Wilt, 13.617; 49. 32-Justin Barger, 13.628; 50. 28F-Davey Franek, 13.742; 51. 6W-Brad Wickam, 13.869; 52. OX-Chris Bell, 13.929; 53. 49H-Bob Howard, 14.015; 54. 40-Caleb Helms, 14.381; 55. 3F-Rick Fraley, 19.520
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 27-Daryn Pittman[1] ; 2. 39-Greg Hodnett[3] ; 3. 59-Brooke Tatnell[6] ; 4. FVP21-Brian Brown[2] ; 5. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[4] ; 6. 83X-Tim Shaffer[8] ; 7. O-Jamie Collard[5] ; 8. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[7] ; 9. 3-Pete Miller[9] ; 10. 6W-Brad Wickam[11] ; 11. 16-Danny Mumaw[10]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 15-Donny Schatz[3] ; 2. 2L-Ed Lynch Jr.[1] ; 3. 11-Steve Kinser[4] ; 4. 55-Terry McCarl[6] ; 5. 22-Jimmy Stinson[5] ; 6. D4-Danny Holtgraver[8] ; 7. 33-Danny Lasoski[7] ; 8. 56R-Ryan Myers[10] ; 9. 16X-Bryan Sebbetto[9] ; 10. OX-Chris Bell[11] ; 11. O4-Cap Henry[2]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 83-Paul McMahan[2] ; 2. 91-Cody Darrah[1] ; 3. 6R-Ian Madsen[3] ; 4. 2-Dale Blaney[4] ; 5. 49-Brad Sweet[5] ; 6. 15A-Adam Wilt[10] ; 7. 20E-Brian Ellenberger[8] ; 8. 49H-Bob Howard[11] ; 9. 35R-Ronnie Blair[9] ; 10. 5-Jac Haudenschild[7] ; 11. 77X-Wayne Johnson[6]
Heat 4 – (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 7-Craig Dollansky[4] ; 2. 1Z-Jessica Zemken[2] ; 3. 35-Justin Henderson[1] ; 4. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[5] ; 5. 51-Fred Rahmer[6] ; 6. 63-Chad Kemenah[3] ; 7. 4-Danny Smith[7] ; 8. 12-Lynton Jeffrey[9] ; 9. 40-Caleb Helms[11] ; 10. 23-Chris Shirek[8] ; 11. 32-Justin Barger[10]
Heat 5 – (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1-Sammy Swindell[1] ; 2. 14-Jason Meyers[4] ; 3. 7S-Jason Sides[2] ; 4. 92-Kerry Madsen[5] ; 5. 9-Joey Saldana[3] ; 6. 6-Kraig Kinser[6] ; 7. 89G-David Gravel[7] ; 8. 21-Shane Stewart[8] ; 9. 71-Jessica Anderson[9] ; 10. 28F-Davey Franek[10] ; 11. 3F-Rick Fraley[11]
Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 12 starting positions of A-feature)
1. 15-Donny Schatz[1] ; 2. 39-Greg Hodnett[2] ; 3. 7-Craig Dollansky[4] ; 4. 14-Jason Meyers[3] ; 5. 11-Steve Kinser[6] ; 6. 2-Dale Blaney[5] ; 7. 83-Paul McMahan[7] ; 8. 27-Daryn Pittman[9] ; 9. 1-Sammy Swindell[12] ; 10. 1Z-Jessica Zemken[8] ; 11. 91-Cody Darrah[11] ; 12. 2L-Ed Lynch Jr.[10]
D-Main – (8 Laps – Top 2 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 56R-Ryan Myers[1] [$100]; 2. 15A-Adam Wilt[2] [$100]; 3. OX-Chris Bell[6] [$100]; 4. 6W-Brad Wickam[5] [$100]; 5. 40-Caleb Helms[8] [$100]; 6. 28F-Davey Franek[4] [$100]; 7. 49H-Bob Howard[7] [$100]; 8. 3F-Rick Fraley[9] [$100]; 9. 32-Justin Barger[3] [$100]
C-Main – (10 Laps – Top 2 finishers transfer to the B-feature)
1. 89G-David Gravel[1] [-]; 2. 83X-Tim Shaffer[2] [-]; 3. 16X-Bryan Sebbetto[8] [$144]; 4. 12-Lynton Jeffrey[10] [$120]; 5. 56R-Ryan Myers[13] [$120]; 6. 15A-Adam Wilt[14] [$96]; 7. 3-Pete Miller[7] [$96]; 8. 71-Jessica Anderson[11] [$96]; 9. D4-Danny Holtgraver[3] [$96]; 10. 20E-Brian Ellenberger[4] [$96]; 11. 21-Shane Stewart[6] [$96]; 12. 23-Chris Shirek[5] [$96]; 13. 35R-Ronnie Blair[9] [$96]; 14. 16-Danny Mumaw[12] [$96]
B-Main – (12 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[1] [-]; 2. 9-Joey Saldana[3] [-]; 3. 63-Chad Kemenah[2] [-]; 4. 51-Fred Rahmer[9] [-]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet[7] [$192]; 6. 89G-David Gravel[15] [$173]; 7. 22-Jimmy Stinson[6] [$168]; 8. O-Jamie Collard[5] [$154]; 9. 5-Jac Haudenschild[13] [$144]; 10. O4-Cap Henry[4] [$144]; 11. 6-Kraig Kinser[10] [$144]; 12. 77X-Wayne Johnson[8] [$144]; 13. 83X-Tim Shaffer[16] [$144]; 14. 4-Danny Smith[14] [$144]; 15. 33-Danny Lasoski[12] [$144]; 16. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[11] [$144]
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Points as of 11-4-11:
Pos.
Driver
Total
Diff
Wins
Top 5
Top 10
QT
1
Jason Meyers
8790
9
41
55
11
2
Donny Schatz
8531
-259
7
32
51
2
3
Steve Kinser
8514
-276
9
30
50
3
4
Paul McMahan
8358
-432
4
20
46
10
5
Craig Dollansky
8322
-468
9
28
45
3
6
Jason Sides
8239
-551
4
21
42
3
7
Lucas Wolfe
7760
-1030
0
7
25
0
8
Kraig Kinser
7684
-1106
1
6
22
0
9
Chad Kemenah
7556
-1234
0
5
19
4
10
Cody Darrah
7296
-1494
1
6
18
0
11
Joey Saldana
7131
-1659
6
22
31
6
12
Sammy Swindell
7037
-1753
4
20
31
11
13
Bill Rose
6366
-2424
0
1
4
0
14
Kerry Madsen
5626
-3164
0
7
21
0
15
Brad Sweet
5200
-3590
0
10
25
2
16
Sam Hafertepe Jr.
3022
-5768
1
5
13
2
17
Ben Gregg
2723
-6067
0
1
2
0
19
Daryn Pittman
2226
-6564
1
5
10
1
20
Tim Shaffer
2144
-6646
1
8
12
1
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.