By Jordan Morris
CONCORD, N.C. – May 3, 2016 – This week the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series resumes action when they head to Jacksonville (Ill.) Speedway on Wednesday, May 4. After the midweek action in Illinois, the series will head to the historical Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio for the 38th consecutive season, and the first time in 2016 for the #LetsRaceTwo double-header on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7.
Firing on all cylinders
Before last weekend’s rainouts, the last time Mother Nature prevented the Outlaws from hitting the track was the Wine Country Outlaw Showdown at Calistoga (Calif.) Speedway on April 9 and 10. In the six races since, Joey Saldana has reeled off two third-place finishes, two second-place finishes and a victory at the Texas Outlaw Nationals at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on April 22. Saldana’s worse finish in that span was an eighth the last time the series was on track at I-30 Speedway on April 26.
Saldana will need his recent consistency when he heads to Eldora, a track that he scored two fourth-place finishes, a 17th, 19th and 24th at in 2015.
Home is where the heart is
No World of Outlaws regulars will have home track advantage in the Land of Lincoln. After the stand alone event in Illionois and a couple of days for travel, the series will enter The Buckeye State for a weekend of action at Eldora.
Greg Wilson, a resident of Benton Ridge, Ohio, is the only Outlaws regular who won’t have to go far from home to compete at Eldora. Wilson’s sponsors, Hercules Tires and Ohio Logisitcs, are also based out of Ohio and will be able to experience the Outlaws in their backyard for the first time in 2016.
You Schatz to be kidding?
Donny Schatz, who currently leads the World of Outlaws in KSE Hard Charger Awards with five, has scored two of those awards within the last three weeks – one at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway on April 15 after gaining 12 spots to finish fifth, and the other at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on April 22 after picking up 11 spots to finish eighth. In that span of races, Schatz has only scored one podium finish, which came at USA Raceway on April 18.
Schatz swept both May races at Eldora in 2015 and will be looking to get back in championship form this week.
Jacksonville Jive
In 2014, which was the Outlaws’ only other appearance at Jacksonville Speedway, Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb placed all three cars in the top five finishing positions. Daryn Pittman finished second, Brad Sweet finished fourth and Cody Darrah finished fifth to complete the top-five sweep.
Future NASCAR driver Christopher Bell captured the victory in the inaugural race, which was his first career Outlaws victory. Donny Schatz finished third and was the other non-KKR driver in the top-five.
For more race information and to learn how to purchase tickets for Jacksonville (Ill.) Speedway on Wednesday, May 4 visit www.WoOSprint.com/Jacksonville-Speedway, and for the #LetsRaceTwo double-header at Eldora Speedway on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 visit www.WoOSprint.com/Eldora-Speedway.
ABOUT THE TRACKS
JACKSONVILLE SPEEDWAY is a 1/4-mile, semi-banked dirt oval. The track record is 11.544 seconds and was established by Donny Schatz on May 7, 2014.
Previous A-Feature winner:
2014 – Christopher Bell on May 7
ELDORA SPEEDWAY is a high-banked, 1/2-mile oval. The track record is 12.707 seconds and was established by Craig Dollansky on April 13, 2002.
Previous A-Feature winners:
2015 – Donny Schatz on May 8, Donny Schatz on May 9, Shane Stewart on July 17, Shane Stewart on July 18, Greg Wilson on Sept. 25
2014 – Shane Stewart on May 2, David Gravel on May 3, Sammy Swindell on July 11, Kerry Madsen on July 12, Joey Saldana on Sept. 19
2013 – Kerry Madsen on May 3, Daryn Pittman on May 4, Kerry Madsen on July 12, Brad Sweet on July 13
2012 – Chad Kemenah on May 4, Sammy Swindell on May 5, Joey Saldana on July 13, Sammy Swindell on July 14
2011 – Joey Saldana on May 8, Tim Shaffer on July 15, Tyler Walker on July 16, Joey Saldana on Sept. 23
2010 – Joey Saldana on May 8, Paul McMahan on May 9, Joey Saldana on July 16, Steve Kinser on July 17, Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 24
2009 – Donny Schatz on May 9, Terry McCarl on July 17, Donny Schatz on July 18, Jason Sides on Sept. 25
2008 – Craig Dollansky on April 11, Donny Schatz on May 31, Joey Saldana on July 11, Daryn Pittman on July 13, Joey Saldana on Sept. 19
2007 – Jason Meyers on April 13, Paul McMahan on June 2, Steve Kinser on July 13, Donny Schatz on July 14, Joey Saldana on Sept. 21
2006 – Sammy Swindell on April 8, Craig Dollansky on June 3, Craig Dollansky on July 14, Joey Saldana on July 15, Joey Saldana on Aug. 4
2005 – Steve Kinser on April 9, Sammy Swindell on June 4, Steve Kinser on July 15, Steve Kinser on July 16, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 5
2004 – Steve Kinser on April 10, Danny Lasoski on June 5, Dale Blaney on July 16, Jason Sides on July 17, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 6
2003 – Sammy Swindell on April 19, Steve Kinser on May 31, Steve Kinser on July 18, Steve Kinser on July 19, Jason Meyers on Aug. 8
2002 – Craig Dollansky on April 13, Steve Kinser on June 1, Daryn Pittman on July 19, Joey Saldana on July 20, Steve Kinser on Aug. 2
2001 – Mark Kinser on April 14, Andy Hillenburg on June 2, Andy Hillenburg on July 20, Mark Kinser on July 21, Steve Kinser on Aug. 3
2000 – Steve Kinser on April 22, Mark Kinser on June 3, Sammy Swindell in July 14, Dale Blaney on July 15, Tim Shaffer on Aug. 4
1999 – Tim Shaffer on June 5, Mark Kinser on July 15, Greg Hodnett on July 16, Sammy Swindell on July 17, Stevie Smith on Aug. 6
1998 – Sammy Swindell on April 11, Sammy Swindell on June 13, Jac Haudenschild on July 17, Jac Haudenschild on July 18, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 7
1997 – Sammy Swindell on April 4, Dave Blaney on June 14, Dave Blaney on July 18, Steve Kinser on July 19, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 8
1996 – Sammy Swindell on April 5, Steve Kinser on June 15, Mark Kinser on July 19, Johnny Herrera on July 20, Mark Kinser on Aug. 9
1995 – Jac Haudenschild on April 15, Steve Kinser on June 10, Dave Blaney on Aug. 11
1994 – Kenny Jacobs on April 17, Kenny Jacobs on June 11, Dave Blaney on Aug. 12
1993 – Dave Blaney on April 18, Steve Kinser on June 12, Dave Blaney on Aug. 13
1992 – Sammy Swindell on April 12
1991 – Steve Kinser on June 7, Sammy Swindell on June 8
1990 – Steve Kinser on April 22, Steve Kinser on June 9
1989 – Jeff Swindell on April 23, Doug Wolfgang on June 10, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 5
1988 – Doug Wolfgang on April 10, Steve Kinser on Aug. 27
1987 – Steve Kinser on April 12, Steve Kinser on Aug. 8
1986 – Bobby Allen on Aug. 9
1985 – Doug Wolfgang on April 14, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 10
1984 – Ron Shuman on April 8
1983 – Brad Doty on May 22
1982 – Danny Smith on May 8, Sammy Swindell on May 9, Doug Wolfgang on June 12, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 7, Steve Kinser on Oct. 17
1981 – Sammy Swindell on May 16, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 8, Steve Kinser on Oct. 18
1980 – Sammy Swindell on April 13, Steve Kinser on May 3, Steve Kinser on May 4, Steve Kinser on May 25, Steve Kinser on July 5, Steve Kinser on Aug. 9, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 30, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 31, Steve Kinser on Oct. 19
1979 – Ron Shuman on April 15, Dub May on May 27, Steve Kinser on July 3, Sammy Swindell on July 14, Steve Kinser on Aug. 4, Doug Wolfgang on Sept. 1, Shane Carson on Oct. 21
1978 – Bobby Allen on April 16, Rick Ferkel on April 30, Steve Kinser on May 21, Rick Ferkel on July 3, Randy Ford on Aug. 3, Rick Ferkel on Aug. 4, Rick Ferkel on Aug. 5, Steve Kinser on Sept. 3, Shane Carson on Oct. 29