By Larry Boos, Bill Miller photos
ROSSBURG, Ohio (May 5) – In two of his most recent appearances at Eldora Speedway – including Friday night – tire issues have left veteran Sammy Swindell deflated. But in the World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car feature on Saturday, the only shredding for the Germantown, Tenn., driver is what he did to the field. Swindell led all 30 laps to capture his fourth WoO victory this season in the concluding night of the Outlaw Thunder presented by Goodyear doubleheader weekend.
In the UMP DIRTcar Modified feature, Wayne, Ohio’s Jeff Babcock benefitted from a late caution that bunched the field to take the lead and run off the final five laps of the 18-lap feature. In the two UMP DIRTcar features at Eldora this season he’s finished first and second.
Swindell started second to pole-sitter Paul McMahan and stormed to the lead to click off the first lap. He stretched his lead to a dominating 1.8 seconds over Joey Saldana with 12 laps complete. But Saldana started reeling in Swindell over the next two laps, trimming that nearly two-second deficit to 0.6 seconds on lap 14. Swindell never relinquished the lead but worry entered his mind on lap 24 when Jason Sides shredded a tire and again on lap 28 when Kraig Kinser’s tire went flat.
At the Kings Royal in 2011, Swindell was charging out of turn 4 to the sure victory when he shredded a tire and limped past the line to finish second. On Friday night, Swindell’s night was slowed when he cut a tire with seven laps left to finish sixth.
“I really hated to see those because the tires do get pretty warm here. Having those two yellows back-to-back we thought we might lose some (tire) pressure,” said Swindell, who holds an 11-point lead over Donny Schatz for the WoO points lead. “I was thinking about the Kings Royal and about not making it that last corner. This Big Game Tree Stands car’s been awesome.”
Kinser’s flat set up an exciting green-white-checkered flag finish for the Outlaws. Swindell, as he did in the previous caution, chose the outside on the double-file restart. The pack engulfed Saldana on the restart as his engine faltered. Dale Blaney took advantage to jump up to second but didn’t have time to chase down Swindell.
“I wasn’t stuck to where I had to run right up against the curb,” said Swindell, who ran along the outer wall but maneuvered around traffic both high and low on Eldora’s banking. “I could move down and that really was the key in the lapped traffic. … We could just breeze right through there pretty easy.”
Blaney, Big Game Tree Stand teammate Craig Dollansky, David Gravel and Daryn Pittman rounded out the top five. Saldana finished seventh.
“We weren’t really, really good the first 15 or 20 laps … but overall it was a great night,” Blaney said. “I was going to run fourth until those cautions but we got through to second. I’m looking forward to coming back for the Kings Royal weekend.”
Eldora Speedway owner Tony Stewart arrived in Ohio following qualifying for Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama – he qualified eighth for the Sprint Cup race – to compete with the second night with the Outlaws. The reigning and three-time NASCARSprint Cup Series champion qualified ninth and finished 18th in the feature. Stewart won the Last Chance Showdown to reach the main event.
The victory was the 19th at Eldora for Swindell and his first since April 8, 2006. Only Steve Kinser (35) has more WoO wins on Eldora’s all-time list.
David Gravel topped the two-lap qualifying session for the second straight night with a 13.213 around the half-mile oval. Gravel also was fast qualifier Friday with a 13.228.
“It usually doesn’t happen for me here but we found something,” Gravel said of his qualifying sessions.
McMahan, Trey Starks, Steve Kinser and Jac Haudenschild all won heats.
In the Modified feature, Aaron Orr led the first 12 laps before tagging the wall in turn 3-4 to bring out a caution and surrender the lead to Matt Westfall. Westfall fought off a slide job by Babcock on lap 13, but couldn’t hold off a second one as Westfall brushed the wall in turn 3-4 and Babcock raced past. Babcock charged ahead of the field and beat Westfall to the finish line by a comfortable 3.4 seconds. Jesse Bitterling, Joey Kramer and Rob Williams finished among the top five.
“I thought I could get him the lap before but I didn’t have the clearance,” Babcock said of that first pass attempt of Westfall. “I thought the next lap I’ll set him up good to where I can get him. Everybody is so fast around here. The race track is perfect like this, everybody is fast and you can go anywhere. It makes the racing a lot of fun.”
Jesse Bitterling, Babcock, Scott Orr and Westfall all won heats. Joey Kramer and Scott Bowersock won B-Features.
Eldora Speedway hosts Mobil 1 Family Fun Night on Saturday, May 19. The UMP DIRTcar Modifieds and Eldora Stock Cars will be in action. Fans also will be treated to a pyrotechnic-filled fireworks extravaganza.
Information for the Family Fun Night, the Kings Royal weekend, and all other Eldora events are available through the track office at (937) 338-3815 or online 24 hours a day at www.EldoraSpeedway.com. Like us at www.Facebook.com/EldoraSpeedway or catch all the behind-the-scenes preparation for the event on Twitter @EldoraSpeedway.
GOODYEAR OUTLAW THUNDER NIGHT #2
MAY 5, 2012
WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINTS – 36 CARS
Qualifying – 1. 89G-David Gravel, 13.21; 2. 2-DaleBlaney, 13.24; 3. 9-Joey Saldna 13.25; 4. 27-Daryn Pittman, 13.28; 5. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.29; 6. 4-Cody Darrah, 13.33; 7. 1-Sammy Swindell, 13.35; 8. 29-Kerry Madsen, 13.39; 9. 14-Tony Stewart, 13.41; 10. D4-Danny Holtgraver, 13.42; 11. 00-Jim Nier, 13.42; 12. 7-Craig Dollansky, 13.42; 13. 45-Paul McMahan, 13.43; 14. 55-Trey Starks, 13.44; 15. 11-Steve Kinser, 13.45; 16. 5-Jac Haudenschild, 13.45; 17. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.45; 18. 6-Bill Rose, 13.48; 19. 19-Stevie Smith, 13.50; 20. 54-Cap Henry, 13.51; 21. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 13.51; 22. 83-Tim Shaffer, 13.53; 23. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.57; 24. 63-Chad Kemenah, 13.59; 25. 1X-Randy Hannagan, 13.63; 26. 2M-Dustin Daggett, 13.64; 27. 24H-Bryan Sebbetto, 13.64; 28. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.66; 20. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.71; 30. 56R Ryan Myers, 13.77; 31. 4S-Danny Smith, 13.78; 32. 12-Jared Ridge, 13.84; 33. 28-Brian Paulus, 13.88; 34. 40-Caleb Helms, 13.91; 35. 71M- Paul May, 14.27; 36. 19T Todd King, NT.
Heat 1 – (8 laps, Top 5 finishers transfer to A-Main feature): 1. 45-Paul McMahan (1), 2. 11K-Kraig Kinser (5); 3. 89G-David Gravel (4); 4. W20-Greg Wilson (3); 5. 5W-Lucas Wolfe (6); 6. 14-Tony Stewart (2); 7. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild (8); 8. 1X-Randy Hannagan (7); 9. 28-Brian Paulus (9).
Heat 2 – (8 laps, Top 5 finishers transfer to A-Main feature): 1. 55-Trey Starks (1), 2. 2-Dale Blaney (2), 3. 4-Cody Darrah (3), 4. 83-Tim Shaffer (6), 5. D4-Danny Holtgraver (2), 6. 40-Caleb Helms (9), 7. 2M-Dustin Daggett (7), 8. 6-Bill Rose (5), 9. 56R-Ryan Myers (8), DNF.
Heat 3 – (8 laps, Top 5 finishers transfer to A-Main feature): 1. 11-Steve Kinser (1), 2. 1-Sammy Swindell (3), 3. 9-Joey Saldana (4), 4. 00-Jim Nier (2), 5. 7S-Jason Sides (6), 6. 19-Stevie Smith (5), 7. 24H-Bryan Sebbetto (7), 8. 71M-Paul May (9), 9. 4S-Danny Smith (8).
Heat 4 – (8 laps, Top 5 finishers transfer to A-Main feature): 1. 5-Jac Haudenschild (1), 2. 7-Craig Dollansky (2), 3. 63-Chad Kemenah (6), 4. 29-Kerry Madsen (3), 5. 27-Daryn Pittman (4), 6. 55-Cap Henry (5), 7. 12-Jared Ridge (8), 8. 15-Donny Schatz, (7) DNF, 9. 19T-Todd King (9), DNS.
Dash (6 laps) – 1. 45-Paul McMahan (1), 2. 1-Sammy Swindell (3), 3. 9-Joey Saldana (4), 4. 2-Dale Blaney (5), 5. 7-Craig Dollansky (2), 6. 89G-David Gravel (6), 7. 11-Steve Kinser (8), 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser (10), 9. 5-Jac Haudenschild (9), 10. 55-Trey Starks (7).
Last Chance Showdown (12 laps, Top 4 finishers to A-Main): 1. 14-Tony Stewart (1), 2. 1X-Randy Hannagan (5), 3. 15-Donny Schatz (8), 4. 54-Cap Henry (4), 5. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild (9), 6. 6-Billl Rose (2), 7. 24H-Bryan Sebbetto (7), 8. 19-Stevie Smith (3), 9. 2M-Dustin Daggett (6), 10. 28-Brian Paulus (13), 11. 40-Caleb Helms (14), 12. 71M-Paul May (15), 13. 4S-Danny Smith (11), 14. 12-Jared Ridge (12), 15. 56R-Ryan Myers (10), 16. 19T-Todd King (16).
A-Main (30) – 1. 1-Sammy Swindell (2), 2. 2-Dale Blaney (4), 3. 7-Craig Dollansky (5), 4. 39G-David Gravel (6), 5. 27-Daryn Pittman (11), 6. 15-Donny Schatz (24), 7. 9-Joey Saldana (3), 8. 11-Steve Kinser (7), 9. W20-Greg Wilson (12), 10. 63-Chad Kemenah (22), 11. 45-Paul McMahan (1), 12. 29-Kerry Madsen (14), 13. 5W-Lucas Wolfe (19), 14. 5-Jac Haudenschild (9), 15. 55-Trey Sparks (10), 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser (8), 17. 4-Cody Darrah (13), 18. 14-Tony Stewart (15), 19. 7S-Jason Sides (21), 20. D4-Danny Holtgraver (16), 21. 83-Tim Shaffer (20), 22. 1X-Randy Hannagan (23), 23. 54-Cap Henry (18), 24. 6-Bill Rose (25), 25. 00-Jim Nier (17).
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds – 39 CARS
Heat 1 – (8 laps, Top 4 finishers transfer to A-Main feature): 1. 225-Jesse Bitterling (1), 2. 11-Rob Williams (8), 3. 52-John Phlipot Jr. (7), 4. 21M-Donnie Miller (2), 5. 15-Nick Katterhenry (4), 6. 03-Cory Seeling (10), 7. 21T-Tom Treon (6), 8. 45B-Brian Post (5) DNF, 9. 31J-John Brooks (3) DNF.
Heat 2 – (8 laps, Top 4 finishers transfer to A-Main feature): 1. 7B-Jeff Babcock (4), 2. 188-Aaron Orr (2), 3. 05-David Smith (10), 4. 7A-Doug Adkins (9), 5. 22B-Andy Bibler (8), 6. 4J-David Treon Jr. (6), 7. 8-Fireball Pinkerton (3), 8. 79-Shane Unger (7), 9. 36-Brandon Vaughan (5), 10. 1-Scott Williams (1).
Heat 3 – (8 laps, Top 4 finishers transfer to A-Main feature): 1. 88-Scott Orr (3), 2. 28-Shaun Smith (2), 3. 7-Evan Taylor (6), 4. 0-Brent Hole (4), 5. 77-Joey Kramer (7), 6. 00-Dave Daugherty (8), 7. 1S-Steve Billenstein (1), 8. 5-Jonathan Taylor (6), 9. 29-Mark Kowarsch (10), 10. 4-Mike Chrisman (5).
Heat 4 – (8 laps, Top 4 finishers transfer to A-Main feature): 1. 20W-Matt Westfall (2), 2. 18-Ryan Sutter (4), 3. 20-Josh Morton (1), 4. 5X-Tim Richardson (6), 5. 10-Scott Bowersock (9), 6. 26-Mike Dirksen (7), 7. 31-Matt Bex (3), 8. 24-Terry Grillot (5), 9. 8C-Corey Bevard (8)
B-Main 1 (8 laps, Top 4 finishers transfer to A-Main): 1. 77-Joey Kramer (2), 2. 15-Nick Katterhenry (1), 3. 900-Dave Daugherty (4), 4. 21T-Tom Treon (5), 5. 5-Jonathan Taylor (8), 6. 29-Mark Kowarsch (10), 7. 4-Mike Chrisman (12), 8. 45P-Brian Post (7), 9. 1S-Steve Billenstein (6).
B-Main 1 (8 laps, Top 4 finishers transfer to A-Main): 1. 10-Scott Bowersock (2), 2. 4J-David Treon Jr. (3), 3. 8-Fireball Pinkerton (5), 4. 26-Mike Dirksen (4), 5. 31-Matt Bex (6), 6. 79-Shane Unger (7), 7. 8C-Corey Bevard (10), 8. 1-Scott Williams (11), 9-22B-Andy Bibler (1), 10. 24-Terry Grillot (8), 11. 36-Brandon Vaughn (9).
A-Main (18 laps) – 1. 7B-Jeff Babcock (6), 2. 20W-Matt Westfall (4), 3. 225-Jesse Bitterling (7), 4. 77-Joey Kramer (17), 5. 11-Rob Williams (3), 6. 18-Ryan Sutter (8), 7. 05-David Smith (10), 8. 7A-Doug Adkins (14), 9. 28-Shaun Smith (1), 10. 7-Evan Taylor (11), 11. 88-Scott Orr (5), 12. 52-Weasel Phlipot (9), 13. 10-Scott Bowersock (18), 14. 00-Dave Daughterty (21), 15. 21M-Donnie Miller (13), 16. 20M-Josh Morton (12), 17. 0-Brent Hole (15), 18. 15-Nick Katterhenry (19), 19. 26-Mike Dirksen (24), 20. 5X-Tim Richardson (16), 21. 4J-David Treon Jr. (20), 22. 8-Fireball Pinkerton (22), 23. 188-Aaron Orr (2), 24. 21T-Tom Treon (23).
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