By Shawn Miller
HAGERSTOWN, Md. – May 20, 2012 – Craig Dollansky was clearly the fastest at Hagerstown Speedway on Sunday night.
He clocked in almost a quarter of a second faster than anyone else – and less than two-tenths off the track record – in qualifying, charged from fourth to claim his heat race, nearly won the dash after starting sixth and led all 25 laps of the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet presents the Kasey Kahne Challenge brought to you by O’Neill Race Gear feature.
“We had a good race car from the time we unloaded,” Dollansky said after his third World of Outlaws win of the season.
It was his first career Outlaws victory at Hagerstown Speedway in the series return to the half-mile track following a six-year absence.
“We could hang with him early and then at the end he got by a couple of lapped cars that really held me up and that was pretty much the end of it,” runner-up Daryn Pittman said.
Dollansky, who pulled a six during the dash inversion, rocketed from sixth to second in turns one and two on the opening lap of the dash. He finished a close second to Paul McMahan, who earned the pole for the feature.
The duo were side by side as they headed toward the first turn after taking the initial green flag, but it was Dollansky who powered to the top spot with Pittman in tow. McMahan fell to fourth, which is where he restarted on the only caution of the race – a spin by Greg Hodnett in turn four on the third lap.
“Just getting into (turn) one is the key,” said McMahan, who rebounded to finish third for his second podium in the last three races. “The bottom is just too slow around the bottom. If you can carry your momentum around the top it’s a better place to be. I had a good start. I just couldn’t clear Craig down the front straightaway so I had to go to the bottom and he just carried momentum around the top, and Daryn followed right along with him.”
Stevie Smith and Logan Schuchart, who restarted third and fifth, respectively, got together in turn two on the restart. It allowed Dollansky and Pittman to pull away, and it gave Cody Darrah an opportunity to rocket from eighth to fourth and Chad Kemenah to advance from 10th to fifth.
One lap later, Sammy Swindell, who entered the race tied for the championship points lead, began to fall toward the back of the field with a steering issue. By that point Dollansky had half a straightaway advantage over Pittman.
They entered traffic on lap 10, which allowed Pittman to quickly gain on Dollansky. The final 15 laps featured the duo sliding lapped cars with Dollansky pulling away to nearly a straightaway lead by the checkered flag.
“When you’re leading you don’t know how big of a lead you have,” Dollansky said. “I felt there was a couple of times we got held up in lapped traffic and I thought it cost us.
“To come out with a win in this area is not easy to do. You’ve got the Pennsylvania Posse here and the best of the World of Outlaws, so I’m just proud of this entire team.”
Smith finished fourth and Kraig Kinser earned his fifth top five of the season. Darrah was sixth, Danny Lasoski maneuvered from 19th to place seventh, Lance Dewease ended eighth and Joey Saldana finished ninth.
After crashing in the Last Chance Showdown, Donny Schatz used a provisional to start last in the feature and he charged from 26th to round out the top 10. It earned him the KSE Hard Charger Award for the fourth time this season.
Schatz’s Tony Stewart Racing teammate, Steve Kinser, also used a provisional and drove from 25th to 11th. That, combined with Swindell’s 20th-place finish, moved Kinser into the championship lead for the first time this season.
NASCAR star Kasey Kahne, who co-promoted the event, finished 15th in his World of Outlaws season debut.
Dollansky, Dewease, Darrah and Swindell picked up wins in the heat races, and Sam Hafertepe Jr. claimed the Last Chance Showdown.
The next Kasey Kahne Challenge event is Tuesday, June 5, at Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Ind.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet presents the Kasey Kahne Challenge brought to you by O’Neill Race Gear Notebook
NOTES – NASCAR drivers Kasey Kahne and Dave Blaney competed in the event. … This was the first World of Outlaws race at Hagerstown Speedway since 2005. … Sammy Swindell recorded his series-best ninth heat race win. … Sam Hafertepe Jr. became the 20th different Last Chance Showdown winner in 21 races this season.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS – Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Danny Lasoski; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Craig Dollansky; Armor All (case of product): Daryn Pittman; STP ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; UNOH ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; JE Pistons (set of rings): Lucas Wolfe; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; Superflow ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; JE Pistons (set of rings): Chad Kemenah; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Sammy Swindell; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Danny Dietrich.
WINNERS – Sammy Swindell – 4 (Eldora Speedway on May 5, Knoxville Raceway on April 28, Missouri State Fair Speedway on April 20 and Merced Speedway on March 30); Craig Dollansky – 3 (Hagerstown Speedway on May 20, Tri-State Speedway on April 21 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Donny Schatz – 3 (Farmer City Raceway on April 25, 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); Steve Kinser – 2 (Orange County Fair Speedway on May 19 and Williams Grove Speedway on May 12); Joey Saldana – 2 (Paducah International Raceway on April 13 and Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Danny Dietrich – 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 10); Chad Kemenah – 1 (Eldora Speedway on May 4); Danny Lasoski – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18); Paul McMahan – 1 (Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on May 16); Fred Rahmer – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 11).
TIME TRIALS – Craig Dollansky was the fastest qualifier around the half-mile oval with a time of 15.132 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Logan Schuchart (4 points), Stevie Smith (3), Daryn Pittman (2) and Paul McMahan (1).
WE’RE ONLINE – Make sure to check out WorldofOutlaws.com for the latest news and results, plus exclusive driver interviews, video and pictures. Also listen to every event live at DIRTVision.com .
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet presents the Kasey Kahne Challenge brought to you by O’Neill Race Gear Statistical Report; Hagerstown Speedway; Hagerstown, Md.; May 20, 2012
A-Main – (25 Laps) – 1. 7-Craig Dollansky [2] [$10,000]; 2. 27-Daryn Pittman [4] [$5,500]; 3. 13-Paul McMahan [1] [$3,200]; 4. 19-Stevie Smith [3] [$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5] [$2,500]; 6. 4-Cody Darrah [9] [$2,300]; 7. 33-Danny Lasoski [19] [$2,200]; 8. 30C-Lance Dewease [7] [$2,100]; 9. 9-Joey Saldana [12] [$2,050]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [26] [$1,200]; 11. 11-Steve Kinser [25] [$700]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart [8] [$1,200]; 13. 77-Aaron Ott [21] [$1,100]; 14. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [24] [$1,050]; 15. 5-Kasey Kahne [15] [$1,000]; 16. 29-Kerry Madsen [20] [$900]; 17. 48-Danny Dietrich [22] [$800]; 18. 55-Mike Wagner [14] [$800]; 19. 87-Alan Krimes [23] [$800]; 20. 1-Sammy Swindell [6] [$800]; 21. 15A-Adam Wilt [18] [$800]; 22. 1Z-Sam Hafertepe Jr [17] [$800]; 23. 63-Chad Kemenah [11] [$800]; 24. 19M-Brent Marks [10] [$800]; 25. 39-Greg Hodnett [16] [$800]; 26. 51-Fred Rahmer [13] [$800]. Lap Leaders: Craig Dollansky 1-25. KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz [+16].
Qualifying – 1. 7-Craig Dollansky, 15.132; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.378; 3. 19-Stevie Smith, 15.378; 4. 27-Daryn Pittman, 15.401; 5. 13-Paul McMahan, 15.466; 6. 63-Chad Kemenah, 15.501; 7. 9-Joey Saldana, 15.520; 8. 51-Fred Rahmer, 15.567; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.573; 10. 30C-Lance Dewease, 15.575; 11. 55-Mike Wagner, 15.603; 12. 1-Sammy Swindell, 15.623; 13. 5-Kasey Kahne, 15.626; 14. 19M-Brent Marks, 15.647; 15. 4-Cody Darrah, 15.664; 16. 39-Greg Hodnett, 15.666; 17. 1Z-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 15.674; 18. 15A-Adam Wilt, 15.681; 19. 33-Danny Lasoski, 15.736; 20. 11-Steve Kinser, 15.736; 21. 29-Kerry Madsen, 15.746; 22. 6-Bill Rose, 15.750; 23. 77-Aaron Ott, 15.775; 24. 48-Danny Dietrich, 15.790; 25. 87-Alan Krimes, 15.823; 26. 69K-Don Kreitz, 15.833; 27. 55X-Dave Blaney, 15.847; 28. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 15.863; 29. 15-Donny Schatz, 15.960; 30. 84-Chad Criswell, 16.071; 31. 6B-Brad McClelland, 16.431; 32. 33X-Brian Ehrenzeller, 16.779; 33. 55K-Robert Kendall, No Time.
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 7-Craig Dollansky [4]; 2. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2]; 3. 5-Kasey Kahne [1]; 4. 13-Paul McMahan [3]; 5. 29-Kerry Madsen [6]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [8]; 7. 87-Alan Krimes [7]; 8. 55K-Robert Kendall [9]; 9. 1Z-Sam Hafertepe Jr [5].
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 30C-Lance Dewease [2]; 2. 19M-Brent Marks [1]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4]; 4. 63-Chad Kemenah [3]; 5. 15A-Adam Wilt [5]; 6. 6-Bill Rose [6]; 7. 69K-Don Kreitz [7]; 8. 84-Chad Criswell [8].
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 4-Cody Darrah [1]; 2. 19-Stevie Smith [4]; 3. 55-Mike Wagner [2]; 4. 9-Joey Saldana [3]; 5. 77-Aaron Ott [6]; 6. 33-Danny Lasoski [5]; 7. 6B-Brad McClelland [8]; 8. 55X-Dave Blaney [7].
Heat 4 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 1-Sammy Swindell [2]; 2. 27-Daryn Pittman [4]; 3. 39-Greg Hodnett [1]; 4. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [7]; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich [6]; 6. 51-Fred Rahmer [3]; 7. 11-Steve Kinser [5]; 8. 33X-Brian Ehrenzeller [8].
Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature) – 1. 13-Paul McMahan [2]; 2. 7-Craig Dollansky [6]; 3. 19-Stevie Smith [4]; 4. 27-Daryn Pittman [3]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [1]; 6. 1-Sammy Swindell [8]; 7. 30C-Lance Dewease [7]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5]; 9. 4-Cody Darrah [10]; 10. 19M-Brent Marks [9].
B-Main – (12 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature ) – 1. 1Z-Sam Hafertepe Jr [2] [-]; 2. 33-Danny Lasoski [3] [-]; 3. 87-Alan Krimes [6] [-]; 4. 51-Fred Rahmer [1] [-]; 5. 11-Steve Kinser [4] [$200]; 6. 69K-Don Kreitz [7] [$180]; 7. 55X-Dave Blaney [8] [$175]; 8. 6B-Brad McClelland [11] [$160]; 9. 84-Chad Criswell [10] [$150]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [9] [$150]; 11. 55K-Robert Kendall [13] [$150]; 12. 6-Bill Rose [5] [$150]; 13. 33X-Brian Ehrenzeller [12] [$150].
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Top 20 Championship Standings
Pos.
Driver
Total
Diff
Wins
T5s
T10s
QT
1
Steve Kinser
2863
0
2
10
15
0
2
Sammy Swindell
2845
-18
4
10
15
3
3
Donny Schatz
2831
-32
3
7
16
0
4
Joey Saldana
2804
-59
2
7
15
2
5
Craig Dollansky
2786
-77
3
9
13
3
6
Kraig Kinser
2724
-139
0
5
13
2
7
Chad Kemenah
2580
-283
1
3
7
2
8
Cody Darrah
2573
-290
0
3
7
1
9
Kerry Madsen
2452
-411
0
2
3
0
10
Lucas Wolfe
2446
-417
0
1
6
0
11
Jason Sides
2159
-704
0
5
9
0
12
Bill Rose
2002
-861
0
0
1
0
13
Jac Haudenschild
1655
-1208
0
0
1
0
14
Paul McMahan
1578
-1285
1
2
3
0
15
Danny Lasoski
1546
-1317
1
5
7
0
16
Daryn Pittman
1519
-1344
0
5
7
1
17
David Gravel
1290
-1573
0
3
5
2
18
Terry McCarl
1236
-1627
0
1
3
0
19
Stevie Smith
1178
-1685
0
1
5
1
20
Sam Hafertepe Jr.
1176
-1687
0
1
4
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, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, KSE Racing Products, MSD Ignitions, Penske Shocks, Superflow Dynos and Wix Filters; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Astro Titanium, ButlerBuilt, Fuel Safe, Intercomp, J&J Auto Racing, Jake’s Carts, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo and TNT Rescue.