By Susan Arnold
WILMOT, Wis. (May 8, 2014) – This Sunday is Mother’s Day, but before the World of Outlaws drivers head home to celebrate with mothers, wives and families, they have two pieces of business to take care of: a race at Wilmot Raceway May 9 and a Saturday night event at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind.
Also, Joey Saldana, driver of the Motter Equipment HE&M Saw Beltline Body Shop 71M, has a special mission: to win a birthday trophy for team owner Dan Motter.
“We didn’t have our best night at Jacksonville,” said Saldana, “so we are going to try extra hard to win a trophy or two for Dan at Wilmot and Tri-State Speedway. Dan’s birthday is tomorrow so to be able to cap the evening off in victory lane would add a little icing to his cake!”
Wilmot Raceway is a 1/3-mile oval. The Outlaws have raced there sporadically through the years: 2006, 2008, and this year will mark their third appearance at this southern Wisconsin track.
After racing at Wilmot, the teams will pack up and drive six hours to southern Indiana to tear it up on the high-banked, quarter-mile oval at Haubstadt, Ind.
Saldana likes the Wisconsin track, but is especially looking forward to racing in Haubstadt.
The Brownsburg Bullet has finished second in Outlaws competition at Tri-State Speedway three times, but has never won at this track. He came close last year. He finished second in his heat race, won the dash and led 14 laps in the A-Main before contact with another car that misjudged a slide job while trying to get underneath Saldana, mortally wounded the steering on the 71M. Though Saldana fought the car’s handling problems in order to finish the race, he finished 21st.
“The take away from last year is that we had a set up that was spot on,” said the Brownsburg Bullet. “And we felt we had a car that could win. Hopefully we will be able to recreate the competitive performance set up Saturday night.”
Team owner Dan Motter has some history at this track as well. He celebrated in victory circle in 1995 with driver Stevie Smith.
Saldana and Team Motter continue to be in the thick of the point battle. Going into Friday’s event, they are riding in third place, six points out of the lead and one point out of second.
“While it’s way too early to get too worried about points, you want to continue to stay within striking distance,” said the Bullet. “Right now we are concentrating on one race at a time.”