By Susan Arnold
ELBRIDGE, N.Y. (Oct. 12, 2013) – And then there were three. The 2013 World of Outlaws schedule included more than 90 events and Super Dirt Week at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park was one of the final three remaining races before the champion is crowned Nov. 9 in Charlotte, N.C.
The evening got off to a rough start for the Motter Equipment Beltline Body Shop Fatheadz Eyewear team. Before Joey Saldana could work the 71M up to speed in hot laps, the rear end broke in the car and Saldana had to be pushed back to the pits, missing an opportunity to get a feel for track conditions. The team went to their backup car, a brand new GF1 chassis, and though they were working feverishly, they missed being able to take to the track for their early No. 4 draw in the qualifying order. World of Outlaws rules allow a team only one timed qualifying lap if they miss their draw position.
Hitting the track last, Saldana qualified No. 16 with a single 16.868-second lap around the 5/8-mile Rolling Wheels oval.
The Brownsburg Bullet started sixth in the first heat. When the green flew, pole sitter Sammy Swindell took the lead followed by Paul McMahan. Saldana spent the short eight-lap event in sixth place, challenging fifth place runner Dave Ely but Ely was able to maintain his position. The heat was won by Swindell. Saldana finished in the sixth transfer position, and started 16th in the A-Main.
The first attempt at starting the Super Dirt Week 25-lap Outlaws feature brought out the caution for Blake Breen who got into the wall ending his night, and David Gravel who stopped on the track, also finished for the night. On the restart, Donny Schatz took the lead followed by Paul McMahan and Daryn Pittman.
The bizarre night continued for the 71M team when Saldana rolled to a stop on the track with only five laps complete, bringing out the caution. In the work area, the 71M team swarmed over the car to solve the mechanical problem and were only seconds away from the getting the car back on the track when the two-minute time allotment ran out.
Restart order: Schatz, McMahan, Pittman. At the green, the order remained the same.
On lap 14, Craig Dollansky got around Pittman to take third. At the checkered flag it was Schatz with a wire-to-wire victory, McMahan was second and Dollansky snagged the final podium position.
Saldana was credited with finishing 22nd.
Tonight’s event will air Sunday, Dec. 1 from 9-11 p.m. Eastern time on the CBS Sports Network.
The Outlaws have three weekends off before returning for the season-ending doubleheader in Charlotte Nov. 8-9.