From Aaron Fielder
Tucson, AZ — (March 7, 2015) — It took Brian Brown more than 10 years to score his first ever World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series win. Win number two took just three more Outlaws starts and a few months.
Brown dominated Saturday night’s NAPA Wildcat Shootout presented by RideNow Powersports at USA Raceway to score his second ever series win, the sixth different winner in six races so far this season.
“To win two of the last four Outlaw races we’ve been at – it took us forever to win the first one and it’s awesome here to win the second one,” Brown said.
Brown was up front throughout Saturday night’s event. He qualified in fifth and finished second in his heat and Dash (both to eventual polesitter Brad Sweet). When the green flag flew, Brown jumped to a quick lead. As he weaved his way through lapped traffic, he held off attempts by Brad Sweet and Shane Stewart to close the gap.
When the checkered flag flew, it was Brown crossing the finish line in first.
“Just proud of our whole team. I knew I had to hit my marks and we did it,” Brown said. “I said it earlier but thanks to all you fans for coming out… you can choose what you do with your money, just choose it here with the Outlaws – we really appreciate it.”
The win was a boost for Brown who entered the night after a disappointing run with his FVP/Casey’s General Store team on the second night of the FVP Outlaw Showdown at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Thursday night.
“I kind of screwed up there Thursday at Vegas and put it in the tires and I was kind of down in the dumps,” Brown said. “[My Crew Chief Chad Morgan] said, ‘you know what, don’t worry about it.’ Here we are.”
Six races into the season, Brown is the sixth different driver to stand in victory lane. Joey Saldana expanded his championship points lead over second place Brad Sweet to nine.
Second place finisher Shane Stewart struggled in the opening laps, falling back to sixth as the field rounded the track for the first time. By lap eight he had worked his way back to fourth and was challenging Danny Lasoski for third. As the two drivers came off turn four onto the front stretch, Stewart cleared Lasoski to take over the third spot. Lasoski tried to battle back but was not able to get around the Larson Marks Racing/Kick-It car.
On lap 14, Stewart caught Brad Sweet, then in second. Stewart was able to pull side-by-side with Sweet’s Razorback/Advantage Health car, but Sweet held the position. The next lap, Stewart was again side-by-side with Sweet but this time was able to clear him off of turn two.
After a bobble in turn four on lap 19, Stewart let Sweet get back by.
“We were able to put ourselves in a good position there,” Stewart said. “I was able to get by Brad and then nearly gave it away there and then got back by him.”
Stewart battled back and finished the night in second.
“We’re obviously out here racing for points, so anytime you can finish in the top three it’s a darn good night,” Stewart said. “Steve made a tire selection there and I think we were all a little nervous about it except him. That’s his confidence and we obviously picked the right tire. Brown just got a good start and he was able to keep it out front.”
Stewart rounds out the first week of the Outlaws West Coast swing with a win and a podium finish. He currently sits fourth in the championship standings, 15 points out of the lead.
“We’ve had a good week,” Stewart said. “I’m really proud of my team and we’re going into the Western swing with a lot of confidence.
Sweet ultimately finished the night in third.
“I just didn’t get the start,” Sweet said. “(Brown) had a little bit more track up there on the top and I kind of knew that… Just didn’t really drive a great race but the track conditions didn’t play into our favor either. It wasn’t the most fun race but podiums are important. It’s a long season and we like to get up here.”
The Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb driver is currently second in the championship standings, nine points out of the lead.
Daryn Pittman was the night’s KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award recipient, advancing four positions to finish in 12th. 2001 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion Danny Lasoski scored the quick time of the night.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series continues its West Coast swing at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. on March 13 and 14. Tickets are still available at http://www.WorldofOutlaws.com/
Follow the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws
USA Raceway Notebook
NAPA WILDCAT SHOOTOUT PRESENTED BY RIDENOW POWERSPORTS NOTES: Tonight’s win was the second World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series victory of Brian Brown’s career. His last win came on the final night of Bad Boy Buggies World Finals in November… Brian Brown has won two of his last four World of Outlaws starts… Daryn Pittman was tonight’s KSE Hard Charger, advancing four positions to finish 12th
CONTINGENCY WINNERS – MSD Ignitions ($25 cash):Jason Johnson; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Brian Brown; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart;Mobil 1 ($50 cash): David Gravel; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; Lincoln Welders ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Comp Cams ($50 cash): David Gravel; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Jason Sides; Superflow ($50 cash): Jacob Allen; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 product certificate): Shane Stewart;KSE Racing Products ($100 product certificate): Daryn Pittman; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Shane Stewart;Mobil 1 (20% off Mobil1RacingStore.com): Jason Johnson; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Donny Schatz; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Jason Johnson.
SEASON WINNERS: Brian Brown – 1 (USA Raceway on March 7); Terry McCarl – 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5); Daryn Pittman – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13);Donny Schatz – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14); Shane Stewart – 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5); Brad Sweet – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15)
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; USA Raceway; Tucson, Ariz.; March 7, 2015
A-Main – (30 Laps) – 1. 21-Brian Brown [2] [$10,000]; 2. 2-Shane Stewart [3] [$5,500]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [1] [$3,200]; 4. 51-Paul McMahan [6] [$2,800]; 5. 2L-Danny Lasoski [4] [$2,500]; 6. 29-Kerry Madsen [9] [$2,300]; 7. 83-David Gravel [8] [$2,200]; 8. 71M-Joey Saldana [7] [$2,100]; 9. 24-Terry McCarl [5] [$2,050]; 10. 1s-Logan Schuchart [10] [$2,000]; 11. 7S-Jason Sides [12] [$1,500]; 12. 9-Daryn Pittman [16] [$1,200]; 13. 2LX-Logan Forler [11] [$1,100]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13] [$1,050]; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen [14] [$1,000]; 16. 24R-Rico Abreu [20] [$900]; 17. 15-Donny Schatz [19] [$800]; 18. 82-Dusty Zomer [21] [$800]; 19. 7-Craig Dollansky [18] [$800]; 20. 41-Jason Johnson [17] [$800]; 21. 44W-Austen Wheatley [15] [$800]; 22. 18-Ian Madsen [23] [$800]; 23. 55-Trey Starks [22] [$800]; 24. 7H-Jojo Helberg [24] [$800]. Lap Leaders: Brian Brown 1-30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 9-Daryn Pittman [+4]
Qualifying – 1. 2L-Danny Lasoski, 13.892; 2. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.918; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.955; 4. 29-Kerry Madsen, 14.079; 5. 21-Brian Brown, 14.092; 6. 51-Paul McMahan, 14.159; 7. 24-Terry McCarl, 14.195; 8. 1s-Logan Schuchart, 14.298; 9. 71M-Joey Saldana, 14.304; 10. 2LX-Logan Forler, 14.310; 11. 83-David Gravel, 14.339; 12. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.353; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.382; 14. 1A-Jacob Allen, 14.409; 15. 44W-Austen Wheatley, 14.419; 16. 9-Daryn Pittman, 14.451; 17. 41-Jason Johnson, 14.473; 18. 18-Ian Madsen, 14.560; 19. 7-Craig Dollansky, 14.621; 20. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.693; 21. 24R-Rico Abreu, 14.864; 22. 82-Dusty Zomer, 14.912; 23. 7H-Jojo Helberg, 14.996; 24. 55-Trey Starks, 15.154; 25. 12-Robbie Stillwagon, 15.320; 26. 74X-Josh Hodges, 15.717
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 24-Terry McCarl [2]; 2. 2L-Danny Lasoski [4]; 3. 2LX-Logan Forler [1]; 4. 9-Daryn Pittman [6]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5]; 6. 7-Craig Dollansky [7]; 7. 29-Kerry Madsen [3]; 8. 82-Dusty Zomer [8]; 9. 12-Robbie Stillwagon [9]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 83-David Gravel [1]; 2. 2-Shane Stewart [4]; 3. 21-Brian Brown [3]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [7]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen [5]; 6. 41-Jason Johnson [6]; 7. 1s-Logan Schuchart [2]; 8. 7H-Jojo Helberg [8]; 9. 74X-Josh Hodges [9]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 71M-Joey Saldana [2]; 2. 7S-Jason Sides [1]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [4]; 4. 24R-Rico Abreu [7]; 5. 51-Paul McMahan [3]; 6. 44W-Austen Wheatley [5]; 7. 55-Trey Starks [8]; 8. 18-Ian Madsen [6]
Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 8 starting positions of A-feature) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 2. 21-Brian Brown [1]; 3. 2-Shane Stewart [3]; 4. 2L-Danny Lasoski [4]; 5. 24-Terry McCarl [6]; 6. 51-Paul McMahan [5]; 7. 71M-Joey Saldana [7]; 8. 83-David Gravel [8]
Last Chance Showdown – (12 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 82-Dusty Zomer [4] [-]; 2. 1s-Logan Schuchart [2] [-]; 3. 29-Kerry Madsen [1] [-]; 4. 55-Trey Starks [6] [-]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [3] [-]; 6. 7H-Jojo Helberg [5] [-]; 7. 74X-Josh Hodges [8] [$300]; 8. 12-Robbie Stillwagon [7] [$250]
World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Championship Standings
| Pos |
Car |
Driver |
Total |
Diff |
Wins |
Top 5’s |
Top 10’s |
QT |
| 1 |
71M |
Joey Saldana |
841 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
| 2 |
49 |
Brad Sweet |
832 |
-9 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
| 3 |
9 |
Daryn Pittman |
830 |
-11 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
| 4 |
2 |
Shane Stewart |
826 |
-15 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
| 5 |
15 |
Donny Schatz |
822 |
-19 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
| 6 |
51 |
Paul McMahan |
811 |
-30 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
| 7 |
7s |
Jason Sides |
798 |
-43 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
| 8 |
29 |
Kerry Madsen |
795 |
-46 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
| 9 |
2L |
Danny Lasoski |
789 |
-52 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
| 10 |
83 |
David Gravel |
784 |
-57 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
| 11 |
24 |
Terry McCarl |
764 |
-77 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
| 12 |
1S |
Logan Schuchart |
712 |
-129 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| 13 |
11k |
Kraig Kinser |
708 |
-133 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 14 |
41 |
Jason Johnson |
700 |
-141 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| 15 |
7 |
Craig Dollansky |
608 |
-233 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 16 |
1A |
Jacob Allen |
601 |
-240 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 17 |
12 |
Robbie Stillwagon |
510 |
-331 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 18 |
27 |
Greg Hodnett |
414 |
-427 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| 19 |
21 |
Brian Brown |
398 |
-443 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| 20 |
11 |
Steve Kinser |
360 |
-481 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |