By Susan Arnold
ROSSBURG, Ohio (April 30, 2013) – The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series makes a stop at the famed Eldora Speedway for an Outlaw Thunder doubleheader Friday and Saturday, May 3-4.
Known as the “Big E” and owned by three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart,
Eldora hosts some of the largest dirt racing events in the country, including the prestigious King’s Royal in July and the 4 Crown Nationals in September.
There’s just something about this track and Joey Saldana that just seems to click. The pilot of the Motter Equipment Fatheadz Eyewear 71M is a multiple winner at this track, having scored back-to-back victories in May in 2010 and 2011. He has won the Kings Royal at Eldora twice, 2002 and 2006, and is a three-time 4 Crown Nationals winner (2007, 2008, 2011).
“I really like racing at Eldora,” said the Brownsburg, Ind. driver. “I grew up watching my dad race there and it’s close to home. This is a race that our friends and family can easily drive to and that doesn’t happen very often with our extended race schedule.”
Saldana is the son of Lil’ Joe Saldana, a former successful driver on the United States Auto Club (USAC) and CART Championship Car series.
The second-generation driver, known as the Brownsburg Bullet, is looking for his first win of the season with new car owner Dan Motter. Both driver and owner are no strangers to victory circle. Saldana has 83 career victories to his credit and Motter
won a big share of races back in the 1990s with some of sprint car racing’s biggest names including Stevie Smith, Doug Wolfgang and Kenny Jacobs. In fact Motter has logged five victories at the Ohio track including a victory with Jacobs at the Historical Big One II at Eldora in 1994.
After a 15-year hiatus from the sport, Dan Motter returned as a team owner this season fielding a team of seasoned crew members with first-rate equipment and a driver in Saldana that Motter feels is very capable of winning a championship.
The team has come oh-so-close to a victory, finishing second two times. The Motter Equipment Fatheadz Eyewear 71M set two quick times, two track records and has finished in the top five four times in 17 races.
Currently third in World of Outlaws point standings, the team has proven they are up to the challenge. With a whirlwind 90-race schedule, there is still a lot of dirt left to fly, but
the team is in contention, hovering between second and third in point standings for the past 11 events.
“We really want to bring home an Eldora victory for Dan,” said Saldana. “We’ve both had success at Eldora so let’s just hope we can keep the mojo going.”