By Susan Arnold
SALINA, Okla. (April 22, 2014) – Dan Motter, Joey Saldana and the 71M team are looking forward to a special World of Outlaws race date Friday, April 25 at Salina Highbanks Speedway, the home track for Team Motter sponsor, HE&M Saw.
On Thursday, the team will pay a visit to HE&M Saw’s headquarters in Pryor, Okla. and will have the opportunity to meet the 200-plus employees that include machinists, welders, engineers, assemblers, electricians, sales and service technicians.
HE&M Saw President and CEO Doug Harris is planning a barbeque for the employees that day.
The Motter team will be bringing the 71M World of Outlaws sprint car to the facility so employees can get an up close and personal view of the 900 horsepower, 1200-pound office that Joey Saldana calls home. There will be a special surprise as well because for this event Dan Motter will pay tribute to his sponsor. HE&M Saw decals will dominate the car and it will be known as the HE&M Saw Motter Equipment Beltline Body Shop 71M for the Salina Highbanks event.
“We are so excited to have an opportunity to tour HE&M Saw’s facility and meet their family of employees,” said Dan Motter. “Doug (Harris) and his wife, along with Service Manager Bob Foster were in Perris for our victory. Unfortunately I was out of the country for that event so I missed spending time with them. We have some catching up to do. I am making special plans to be back in the United States in time to attend the company function and the race.”
“Everyone at HE&M Saw is looking forward to the race at our home track, Salina Highbanks Speedway,” said Harris. “It will be a fun event and the employees will have the opportunity to see the car and meet the driver up close during the barbeque that afternoon and root for the car at the race in the evening. I will enjoy hosting Dan and the team and show them what HE&M Saw is all about and how we are contributing to the industry and manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy and to the Oklahoma community in general.”
This will be the third World of Outlaws appearance at Salina Highbanks. Last year,
Saldana and the Motter team were the No. 1 qualifier, set a track record of 11.177 seconds and finished fifth in the feature.
This year, Saldana has been the hottest qualifier on the Outlaws circuit tallying eight quick times in 17 events.
The Brownsburg Bullet is currently fourth in point standings with only 18 points separating 1 through 4.
“We have a good car,” said the Bullet, “and it would be pretty special to bring home a victory for HE&M Saw and their employees at their hometown track. We would also like to win for Dan and Ruth Motter especially since they weren’t in Perris for that win. We have developed good consistency which is very important when you’re chasing a championship.”
On Saturday, the Outlaws will move to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo. This track also hosts the demanding Ironman event in August. Last year the April event near St. Louis was rained out, but Saldana has driven to victory here in 2007 and 2010, and claimed the Ironman trophy in 2009.
“We’ll be working to close the point gap on the leader this weekend,” said Saldana, “and we’re up to the challenge.”
HE&M Saw manufactures over 72 different models of production band saws for the metalworking industry including vertical, horizontal, plate and double column saws. These American made state-of-the-art saws are in operation all over the United States as well as Europe, Canada, Mexico and the Pacific Rim.
The Femi line of HE&M Saws is a favorite of the racing industry because of their portability and impressive cutting and speed capabilities. For more information, please visit www.hemsaw.com.