By Tony Veneziano
LAKE ODESSA, Mich. — May 31, 2016 — The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series has been racing annually at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan for the last decade and before that, competed at the venue a number of times as well. Six drivers have been victorious in the last six races for the series at the three-eighths-mile, which formerly was a half-mile. Brad Sweet is the defending winner at I-96, while Donny Schatz, Paul McMahan and Joey Saldana have all won with the series at the track. This edition of Quick Hits sets the stage for the 2016 Rumble in Michigan at I-96 Speedway on Saturday, June 4.
One to Remember
Joey Saldana earned his first career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series win in 1995 at I-96 Speedway, in what was the series debut at the then-half-mile. Saldana was undefeated that year at the track, also racking up three wins with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions. Saldana is the only current full-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series driver that has raced in all 15 previous main events at the track. He leads all active drivers with 10 top-10 finishes at I-96 Speedway.
On the Podium
Donny Schatz has finished on the podium in each of the last three World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series events at I-96 Speedway. The seven-time and defending series champion was victorious for the first time at the track in 2014. That win is sandwiched between a pair of runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2015. Schatz, who made his debut at the track in 1997, with a sixth-place showing, has eight top-10 finishes at I-96 Speedway, with six of those being top-five performances. He finished second last year, after leading a number of laps in the main event.
Near the Front
Paul McMahan broke through for his first win at I-96 Speedway in 2013. He followed that up with a fifth-place finish in 2014 and was fourth last year. The Californian, who now calls the Nashville area home, first raced at I-96 Speedway with the World of Outlaws in 1997. McMahan has made a total of 10 starts at the track, encompassing both the former half-mile and newer three-eights-mile configurations. He has five top-10 finishes at I-96 Speedway in his career.
Moving on up
Brad Sweet has made three starts at I-96 in his career and has improved his finishing position in each of his return visits. Last year he was victorious, after finishing second in 2014. The win for Sweet snapped a five-race win streak that Donny Schatz carried into the event at I-96, which was postponed by rain at the end of May and run in the latter part of June on a weeknight. Sweet enters this week as the current World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series point leader.
Steady and Solid
Daryn Pittman has been very consistent in his career at I-96 Speedway. In six starts, the Oklahoman, who now calls the Indianapolis area home, has five top-10 finishes. Last year, Pittman was seventh, while he finished a career-best fourth at I-96 in 2014. He made his debut at the track in 2005, finishing 10th.
Getting Closer
Shane Stewart doesn’t have nearly the amount of laps at I-96 that most of his championship-contending rivals have. After making his debut at the track in 2005, he didn’t return until 2008, when he finished eighth. Stewart didn’t race at I-96 again until 2012. Last year in his first start at the now-three-eighths-mile, he finished a career-best fifth for the Larson Marks Racing team, which is co-owned by NASCAR driver Kyle Larson.
Up to Speed
David Gravel has made four starts with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at I-96 Speedway and has finished in the top-10 in three of those races. The Connecticut native ran a career-best third at the track in 2014. He was ninth last year and was also ninth in 2013. Gravel made his debut at I-96 Speedway in 2012. The young driver has a pair of wins thus far in 2016.
Solid Record
Greg Wilson made his first start at I-96 Speedway in 1992, finishing fifth. The next year he was victorious at the track and earned three top-five finishes in the same number of starts. He made his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series start at the track in 2004 and finished sixth, which at the time was his ninth straight top-10 finishes at the track. The Ohio native, who is contending for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this season, has made four starts with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at I-96 Speedway, with the most recent coming in 2012.
Fast Learner
Logan Schuchart has made just two starts at I-96 Speedway, but quickly got up to speed at the Michigan oval. The native of Hanover, Pennsylvania finished 10th in his debut at the track in 2014 and was eighth in 2015. Schuchart earned the Hard Charger Award at I-96 Speedway last year, powering his way from the 19th starting spot to finish eighth.
Making Some Passes
Jacob Allen, who is Schuchart’s teammate at Shark Racing also worked his way through the field at I-96 Speedway in 2015. The son of Hall of Famer and team owner, Bobby Allen, the younger Allen started 23rd and worked his way forward to finish 13th in the 35-lap main event, in what was also just his second-career start at the track.
A Long Wait
Jason Johnson was set to make his first start at I-96 last year, during his rookie campaign with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, but was sideline for a few months, following an accident in California in April. He wound up returning to the cockpit on July 1, which was a week after the series raced at I-96. While he will be visiting the track for the first time, he has raced in the past in the state of Michigan.
Advance tickets for the Rumble in Michigan on Saturday, June 4 for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series event at I-96 Speedway can purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by phone by calling: 815-344-2023. The ticket booth at the track will open at 4 p.m. on race day.
For more information on tickets, visit slspromotions.ticketforce.com.