By Shawn Miller
BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Feb. 10, 2012 – Several new storylines highlight the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series season-opening event – the 41st annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment – which kicks off next week at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.
o Two-time defending champion Jason Meyers will start a 14-race Allstar Appreciation Tour to end his full-time status as a sprint car driver
o Former World of Outlaws champion and current NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dave Blaney will return to sprint cars in a hot rod crewed by veteran Mike Woodring
o The King, Steve Kinser, looks to improve upon his series-best 20 championships and 570 victories at a track where he won the first two races last year
o Four-time champion Donny Schatz has renewed confidence in his quest for a fifth title in a seven-season span
o Joey Saldana is healthy and expectations have him as a frontrunner to claim the championship, which would be the first for Kasey Kahne Racing
o Craig Dollansky is looking to avenge a couple of near misses during last year’s event at Volusia Speedway Park when he led 51 laps but left without a top-10 finish
WHEN
Friday, Feb. 17; Saturday, Feb. 18; and Sunday, Feb. 19, at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. The grandstands are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing set for 7:30 p.m. each night.
WHERE
Volusia Speedway Park is just 15 miles west of Ormond Beach. From I-95, take exit 268 west on State Rd. 40. From Highway 17, take State Rd 40 and drive 5 miles east of Barberville.
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by clicking www.WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets or by calling (877) 395-8606.
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws – http://www.WorldofOutlaws.com
Volusia Speedway Park – http://www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com
Dirt Radio Network – http://www.DIRTVision.com
ABOUT THE TRACK
Volusia Speedway Park is a semi-banked, half-mile oval with 75-foot wide straightaways and 75-foot wide turns. The track record of 12.569 seconds was established by Paul McMahan on February 10, 2011.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
World of Outlaws A-Feature winners at Volusia Speedway Park
2011- Steve Kinser on Feb. 11, Steve Kinser on Feb. 12, Jason Sides on Feb. 13
2010- Donny Schatz on Feb. 6, Steve Kinser on Feb. 7
2009- Donny Schatz on Feb.6, Joey Saldana on Feb. 7, Donny Schatz on Feb. 8
2008- Craig Dollansky on Feb. 8, Jason Meyers on Feb. 9, Danny Lasoski on Feb. 10
2007- Donny Schatz on Feb. 9, Kerry Madsen on Feb. 10, Daryn Pittman on Feb. 10
2006- Chad Kemenah on Feb. 9, Joey Saldana on Feb. 10
2005- Jeff Shepard on Feb. 11, Steve Kinser on Feb. 13
1981- Doug Wolfgang on Feb. 9
HALF-MILE WINNERS
Volusia Speedway Park is a semi-banked, half-mile oval. In 2011, there were 23 races on a track that size. The winners include:Steve Kinser – 4 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 11 and 12, the Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 3, Lakeside Speedway on June 4); Joey Saldana – 4 (the Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 2, Eldora Speedway on May 6, Hartford Motor Speedway on September 21, Eldora Speedway on September on 23); Jason Meyers – 3 (Williams Grove Speedway on July 23, Sept. 30 and Oct. 7);Jason Sides – 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Calistoga Speedway on April 2, I-96 Speedway on May 30) Donny Schatz – 2 (Knoxville Raceway on August 13, Black Hills Speedway on August 23); Craig Dollansky – 1 (Lebanon Valley Speedway on July 24); Greg Hodnett – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on July 22); Paul McMahan – 1 (Belleville Highbanks on June 3); Daryn Pittman – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 13); Tim Shaffer – 1 (Eldora Speedway on July 15); Sammy Swindell – 1 (Knoxville Raceway on June 11); Tyler Walker – 1 (Eldora Speedway on July 16).
DRIVER INFO
The following World of Outlaws drivers maintain web sites:
Cody Darrah – http://www.codydarrah.com
Craig Dollansky – http://www.dollanskyracing.com
Chad Kemenah – http://www.chadkemenah.com
Kraig Kinser – http://www.kraigkinser.com
Steve Kinser – http://www.stevekinser.com
Kerry Madsen – http://www.kerrymadsen.com
Jason Meyers – http://www.eliteracing.net
Bill Rose – http://www.billroseracing.com
Joey Saldana – http://www.joeysaldana.com
Donny Schatz – http://www.donnyschatz.com
Lucas Wolfe – http://www.lucaswolfe.com
For more driver information visit: www.WorldofOutlaws.com
NEWS & NOTES
Tune in: Listen live as the Voice of the Outlaws, Johnny Gibson, calls the action at all World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events on the DIRT Radio Network, with a number of events throughout the season being featured on the DIRTVision Cybercast. Visit http://www.DIRTVision.com for more information on all the features, including updated results from each night of racing as well as a chat room to interact with other fans listening to the racing action. Also, be sure to check out the all new official Podcast of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, Outlaws Unleashed, in the iTunes store or at http://www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
On the Web: The all new Official World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Web site is at http://www.WorldofOutlaws.com and includes driver biographies with statistics and pictures, race-by-race stats, detailed track information and race coverage, series news and team press releases.
Up Next: Following the events in Florida, the World of Outlaws venture west for the month of March, beginning with a race at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas on Thursday, March 8.
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), UNOH , VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), Vicci (Official Apparel) in addition to contingency sponsors Comp Cams, JE Pistons, Superflow, Wix Filters, Penske Shocks, Intercomp, MSD Ignition, Jake’s Custom Golf Carts, KSE Race Products, Racing Electronics and S&S Volvo. Engine Builders Challenge participants include Kistler Engines, Shaver Specialties and Speedway Engines. Chassis Builders Challenge participants J&J Auto Racing, Maxim Racing and XXX Race Company.