By Shawn Miller
MERCED, Calif. – March 26, 2012 – With the last two Saturdays being rained out, the World of Outlaws are looking to build momentum as the initial West Coast swing wraps up this weekend in California.
The Outlaws return to Merced Speedway, which was reconfigured from a quarter-mile track to a one-third miler in the offseason, on Friday before concluding the trip in California on Saturday at the scenic Calistoga Speedway.
Sammy Swindell, who set quick time and won the first-ever World of Outlaws race at Merced Speedway last year, enters this weekend in search of his first victory of the season. Meanwhile, Craig Dollansky heads to Calistoga looking for redemption after he ran out of fuel on the final lap while leading last season’s race.
There will also be a few bonuses for fans at Calistoga, including a hot rod show at the track featuring vintage race cars, a car display on Main Street from Noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday and free wine tasting on Saturday and Sunday at Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena.
WHEN
Friday, March 30, at Merced Speedway in Merced, Calif. Front gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 31, at Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif. Front gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 5:30 p.m. and qualifying at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE
Merced Speedway is located on the Merced County Fairgrounds at 900 Martin Luther King Way in Merced, Calif. Click on the link for a map ( http://g.co/maps/gsknw).
Calistoga Speedway is located at 1435 North Oak Street in Calistoga, Calif. Click on the link for a map ( http://g.co/maps/pzhap).
TICKETS
Tickets for both races can be purchased by clicking WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets or calling 877-395-8606. An exclusive free fan pit pass upgrade is available with the purchase of advance reserved seating for the race at Calistoga Speedway.
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws – www.WorldofOutlaws.com
Merced Speedway -www.racemerced.com
Calistoga Speedway – www.calistogaspeedway.org
Dirt Radio Network – www.DIRTVision.com
ABOUT THE TRACKS
Merced Speedway was changed from a semi-banked, quarter-mile to a one-third mile track during the offseason. The track record of 11.238 was established by Sammy Swindell on April 1, 2011.
Calistoga Speedway is a semi-banked, half-mile oval. The track record of 16.057 seconds was established by Mark Kinser.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
World of Outlaws A-Feature Winner at Merced Speedway:
2011 – Sammy Swindell in April 1
World of Outlaws A-Feature Winners at Calistoga Speedway:
2011 – Jason Sides on April 2
2007 – Danny Lasoski on Sept. 1 and 2
2006 – Craig Dollansky on Sept. 3
2005 – Danny Lasoski on Sept. 3
2004 – Donny Schatz on Sept. 4
2003 – Danny Lasoski on Aug.31
2002 – Daryn Pittman on Sept. 1
2001 – Jeff Shepard on Sept. 2
2000 – Danny Lasoski on Sept. 3
1999 – Sammy Swindell on Sept. 5
1998 – Stevie Smith on Sept. 6
1997 – Sammy Swindell on Aug. 31
1996 – Dave Blaney on Sept. 1
1995 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 3
1994 – Jeff Swindell on Sept. 4
1993 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 5
1992 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 6
1991 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 1
1990 – Sammy Swindell on Sept. 9
1989 – Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 10
1987 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 20
1986 – Doug Wolfgang on Oct. 19
1978 – Rick Ferkel on June 10, Johnny Anderson on Sept. 23
ONE-THIRD MILE WINNERS
Merced Speedway is a half-mile track. There has been one World of Outlaws feature on that size of a track this season, which was won by Tim Kaeding (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16).
HALF-MILE WINNERS
Calistoga Speedway is a half-mile track. There have been five World of Outlaws features on a track that size in 2012. The winners are:Joey Saldana – 1 (Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Tim Kaeding – 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway);Craig Dollansky – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Donny Schatz – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Danny Lasoski – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18).
DRIVER INFO
The following World of Outlaws drivers maintain websites:
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
Sammy Swindell – http://www.swindellmotorsports.citymaker.com
Lucas Wolfe – http://www.lucaswolfe.com
For more driver information, visit: www.WorldofOutlaws.com
NEWS & NOTES
Feature winners: Donny Schatz – 2 (Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Tim Kaeding – 2 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8); Joey Saldana -1 (Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Craig Dollansky – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Danny Lasoski – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18).
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.
Live Updates Online: Check out the Official World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series website at http://www.WorldofOutlaws.com for live text updates of each race. It also 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: The World of Outlaws head to the Midwest for a race at Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, Ken., on April 13 and an event at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo., on April 14.
2012 STAT ATTACK
There have been 7 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature events this season.
A-Feature winners (5 Different Drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – TIM KAEDING, San Jose, Calif. – 2
– DONNY SCHATZ, Minot, N.D. – 2
3 – CRAIG DOLLANSKY, Elk River, Minn. – 1
– DANNY LASOSKI, Dover, Mo. – 1
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 1
Total laps led (7 Different Drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – TIM KAEDING, San Jose, Calif. – 58
2 – DONNY SCHATZ, Minot, N.D. – 55
3 – DANNY LASOSKI, Dover, Mo. – 30
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 30
5 – CRAIG DOLLANSKY, Elk River, Minn. – 25
6 – STEVE KINSER, Bloomington, Ind. – 5
7 – CHAD KEMENAH, Findlay, Ohio – 2
Pole Positions (5 Different Drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Poles
1 – DONNY SCHATZ, Minot, N.D. – 3
2 – TIM KAEDING, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– DANNY LASOSKI, Dover, Mo. – 1
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 1
– JASON SIDES, Barlett, Tenn. – 1
Time Trial leaders (6 Different Drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Quick Times
1 – CHAD KEMENAH, Findlay, Ohio – 2
2 – KRAIG KINSER, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– JASON MEYERS, Clovis, Calif. – 1
– DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 1
– SAMMY SWINDELL, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
Bonus Points Earned (20 Different Drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Points
1 – KRAIG KINSER, Bloomington, Ind. – 15
2 – SAMMY SWINDELL, Germantown, Tenn. – 12
3 – CHAD KEMENAH, Findlay, Ohio – 10
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 10
5 – JASON MEYERS, Clovis, Calif. – 8
6 – TIM KAEDING, San Jose, Calif. – 6
7 – DALE BLANEY, Hartford, Ohio – 5
– CODY DARRAH, Red Lion, Penn. – 5
– DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 5
10 – FRED RAHMER, Salfordville, Penn. – 4
– BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 4
12 – CRAIG DOLLANSKY, Elk River, Minn. – 3
– SAM HAFERTEPE JR., Sunnyvale, Texas – 3
– JAC HAUDENSCHILD, Wooster, Ohio – 3
– BOBBY McMAHAN, Elk Grove, Calif. – 3
16 – STEVE KINSER, Bloomington, Ind. – 2
– KERRY MADSEN, St. Marys, New Wales, Australia – 2
– JASON SIDES, Bartlett, Tenn. – 2
– LUCAS WOLFE, Mechanicsburg, Penn. – 2
20 – DANNY LASOSKI, Dover, Mo. – 1
Heat Race Winners (18 Different Drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – DONNY SCHATZ, Minot, N.D. – 4
2 – STEVE KINSER, Bloomington, Ind. – 2
– KERRY MADSEN, St. Marys, New Wales, Australia – 2
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 2
– SAMMY SWINDELL, Germantown, Tenn. – 2
6 – JONATHAN ALLARD, Chico, Calif. – 1
– BRIAN BROWN, Grain Valley, Mo. – 1
– CODY DARRAH, Red Lion, Penn. – 1
– CRAIG DOLLANSKY, Elk River, Minn. – 1
– DAVID GRAVEL, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– CAP HENRY, Bellevue, Ohio – 1
– TIM KAEDING, San Jose, Calif. – 1
– DANNY LASOSKI, Dover, Mo. – 1
– JASON MEYERS, Clovis, Calif. – 1
– DUSTIN MORGAN, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– FRED RAHMER, Salfordville, Penn. – 1
– JASON SIDES, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
Last Chance Showdown Winners (6 Different Drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – JAC HAUDENSCHILD, Wooster, Ohio – 2
2 – CODY DARRAH, Red Lion, Penn. – 1
– GREG HODNETT, Memphis, Tenn. – 1
– TERRY McCARL, Altoona, Iowa – 1
– BOBBY McMAHAN, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1
– DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 1
Hard Charger Award (6 Different Drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – TREY STARKS, Puyallup, Wash. – 2
2 – BRIAN BROWN, Grain Valley, Mo. – 1
– KRAIG KINSER, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– DONNY SCHATZ, Minot, N.D. – 1
– JASON SIDES, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1
– SAMMY SWINDELL, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
2012 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Number of Wins in 2012)
1. / Saturday, February 18 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Danny Lasoski (1)
2. / Sunday, February 19 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Donny Schatz (1)
3. / Sunday, February 19 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Craig Dollansky (1)
4. / Thursday, March 8 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Kaeding (1)
5. / Saturday, March 10 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, Calif. / Joey Saldana (1)
6. / Friday, March 16 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / Tim Kaeding (2)
7. / Friday, March 23 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, Calif. / Donny Schatz (2)
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Points Standings through March 23
Pos.
Driver
Total
Diff
Wins
Top 5
Top 10
QT
1
Donny Schatz
978
0
2
4
6
0
2
Joey Saldana
958
-20
1
4
5
1
3
Sammy Swindell
952
-26
0
3
5
1
4
Jason Sides
952
-26
0
3
5
0
5
Kraig Kinser
943
-35
0
2
6
1
6
Steve Kinser
940
-38
0
3
5
0
7
Jason Meyers
914
-64
0
2
3
1
8
Craig Dollansky
903
-75
1
3
3
0
9
Chad Kemenah
862
-116
0
1
2
2
10
Lucas Wolfe
828
-150
0
0
2
0
11
Cody Darrah
827
-151
0
0
1
0
12
Kerry Madsen
785
-193
0
1
1
0
13
Bill Rose
768
-210
0
0
1
0
14
Terry McCarl
756
-222
0
1
1
0
15
Sam Hafertepe Jr.
743
-235
0
0
3
0
16
Jac Haudenschild
741
-237
0
0
1
0
17
Tim Kaeding
586
-392
2
3
4
0
18
Trey Starks
474
-504
0
0
0
0
19
Brian Brown
467
-511
0
1
1
0
20
Austen Wheatley
421
-557
0
0
1
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), Gravely Tractors (Official Lawn Equipment), University of Northwestern Ohio, VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), Vicci (Official Apparel); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products, MSD Ignitions, Penske Shocks, Superflow Dynos and Wix Filters; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Fuel Safe, Astro Titanium, Intercomp, J&J Auto Racing, Jake’s Carts, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo and TNT Rescue.