By Tony Veneziano
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — August 12, 2015 — The second half of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series season is well underway, and a pivotal race is always the Second Leg of the Northern Tour Presented by Gerdau at River Cities Speedway in North Dakota. The series returns to the high-banked bullring for the second time this season on Friday, August 21, with another $10,000 top prize awaiting the winner.
Donny Schatz was victorious at River Cities Speedway with the World of Outlaws in June, which was his third win in the last five series races at the track. The North Dakota native now has five overall wins with the series at River Cities, which tops all drivers. Schatz, who is chasing his seventh series championship, has 22 wins thus far in 2015. In June, Schatz took the lead on the third lap from Dusty Zomer and was out front for the remainder of the 40-lap contest.
Shane Stewart, who is currently second in points, finished third at River Cities Speedway during the First Leg of the Northern Tour Presented by Gerdau in June. The veteran driver from Oklahoma has won seven races this season, including the $50,000 Kings Royal and the $20,000 Ironman 55, in what is the first full season on the road with World of Outlaws for the Larson Marks Racing team that he drives for.
Brad Sweet finished fourth at River Cities earlier this year with the series to mark his best-career finish at the high-banked bullring. Sweet currently has three wins with the series, as well as a recent $20,000 win at Southern Iowa Speedway with the National Sprint League. Sweet’s Kasey Kahne Racing teammate, Daryn Pittman, who is a past winner with the Outlaws at the track, finished seventh in June and also has three wins with the series thus far in 2015.
Joey Saldana, a two-time winner over the years at River Cities Speedway in World of Outlaws competition was fastest in time trials at the track in June. He leads the series in quick time awards thus far in 2015 with 12 and is currently fourth in points, just 25 markers out of the third position.
Mark Dobmeier, the winningest driver in River Cities Speedway history in the weekly 410-sprint car division, was the highest finishing local with the World of Outlaws in June, coming home eighth. The Grand Forks native has two career wins with the Outlaws, with those coming at Wilmot Speedway in Wisconsin and Huset’s Speedway in South Dakota.
Also in action on Friday, August 21 in the Second Leg of the Northern Tour Presented by Gerdau will be veterans Kerry Madsen and Paul McMahan, who finished among the top-10 in June, as well as past River Cities winner Kraig Kinser. A talented group of young drivers are following the series in 2015, led by David Gravel, along with Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen.
Jason Johnson, the leading contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award will be making his first World of Outlaws start at River Cities Speedway. The native of Eunice, Louisiana missed the first event for the series at the track this season, as he continued to recuperate from a broken collarbone he suffered in the spring. Since his return at the beginning of July, Johnson has turned in several strong runs, including finishing second in the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway.
Tickets for the Second Leg of the Northern Tour Presented by Gerdau on Friday, August 21 at River Cities Speedway can be purchased online at: http://slspromotions.ticketforce.com or at the track.
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