By Tony Veneziano
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — April 14, 2016 — The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas for the first time in over 20 years on Tuesday, April 26. The last time the series raced at the quarter-mile was in 1994. A total of eight World of Outlaws events have been contested at I-30 Speedway, dating back to 1979.
All four of the drivers that have won a World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series event at I-30 Speedway are enshrined in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Three-time series champion, Sammy Swindell, who is tentatively scheduled to race on April 26, and two-time series titlist Mark Kinser each have won three times with the series at the track. Steve Kinser, the 20-time series champion won the inaugural World of Outlaws race at I-30 Speedway in 1979, while current team owner Bobby Allen was victorious at track known as “Hammer Hill” in 1980.
A total of four drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series in 2016 have been victorious at I-30 Speedway in the Short Track Nationals, one of the biggest and highest-paying 360-sprint car events of the year. Paul McMahan won the event in 2002 and again in 2012. McMahan also won Short Track Nationals preliminary features in each of those years.
Brad Sweet, the current World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series point leader, won the Short Track Nationals in 2010, taking a prelim feature win as well. Jason Johnson was victorious in the 2006 Short Track Nationals and has five overall wins at I-30 Speedway in his career. Jason Sides, who hails from Bartlett, Tennessee, won the Short Track Nationals in 2001.
Shane Stewart, who is currently second in points and has won once thus far in 2016, has three career wins at I-30 Speedway, with two of those coming on preliminary nights of the Short Track Nationals. He also won a full point-paying American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) race at the track in 2003. Stewart has raced at I-30 Speedway in six different seasons during his career.
Daryn Pittman, the 2013 World of Outlaws champion, won a preliminary feature during the 2005 Short Track Nationals. The Oklahoma native, who now calls the Indianapolis area home, raced at I-30 Speedway a number of times early in his career, when he was racing 360-sprint cars. Pittman made his most recent trek to the quarter-mile in 2007, finishing 9th in the Short Track Nationals.
Greg Wilson, a contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this year, has competed in the Short Track Nationals in six different seasons. He finished a career-best third in the blockbuster event in 2010, after finishing third on a preliminary night.
David Gravel, one of young guns in the series, has made a couple of Short Track Nationals starts in his career. He finished sixth on a preliminary night in 2013, which marked his best finish at I-30 Speedway in five main events. Gravel has one victory this season, with that coming during the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series West Coast Swing.
Through the first 14 races of the 2016 season, Sweet leads the standings, ahead of Stewart and Pittman. Seven-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz, who leads the series with five wins, is fourth with Joey Saldana rounding out the top-five. Schatz and Saldana will each be making their first ever visit to I-30 Speedway. Johnson is currently sixth in points, with Gravel seventh, Logan Schuchart eighth, Sides ninth and McMahan 10th.
Tickets for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series return to I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday, April 26 and can be purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by calling SLS Promotions at 815-344-2023.
Discount General Admission tickets can also be purchased at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts stores. Each ticket purchased at an O’Reilly Auto Parts location will feature a special $5 discount. Tickets buyers will exchange their O’Reilly receipt for tickets at the Main Grandstand ticket booth on race day.
For more information on tickets, visit slspromotions.ticketforce.com.