By Tony Veneziano
GREENWOOD, Neb. — June 16, 2016 — One of the most thrilling races of the 2015 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series season took place at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., with Danny Lasoski using a last-corner, last-lap pass to take the win from reigning series champion Donny Schatz. The series returns to the high-banked oval this year on Wednesday, June 22 for the NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Showdown, with another stout field of drives expected. This edition of Quick Hits sets the stage for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series event at I-80 Speedway.
Great Track Record
Joey Saldana has the best stats at I-80 Speedway of any of the current full-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series drivers. Along with a victory in 2014, Saldana has 17 top-10 finishes of which 10 are top-five performances in 19 starts at I-80 Speedway. Saldana finished 13th in his third start at I-80 Speedway in 1996, which to date is his worst finish at the track. The native of Brownsburg, Indiana, who has relatives in Nebraska, has an average finish of 6.4 at I-80 in his career.
One More Spot
Donny Schatz has won at just about every track on the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series schedule, but I-80 is one of the few that he has not been victorious at. The seven-time and defending series champion has finished second each of the last two years at the four-tenths-mile. In 2015, he took the lead late in the going from Danny Lasoski, only to have the latter steal the win with a last lap, last corner pass. Schatz, who has made more starts at I-80 Speedway than any other active full-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series competitor, has 14 top-10 finishes at the track in his career.
Winner, Winner
Jason Johnson has one win at I-80 Speedway in his career. That triumph came in 2011 in a 360-sprint car event with one of the ASCS (American Sprint Car Series) regional tours. The reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, finished second and fourth in his most recent two starts at I-80 in 2014, with the ASCS National Tour. Johnson made his I-80 Speedway debut in 2001 in a pair of events with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.
Strong from the Start
Jason Sides, who finished third with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at I-80 Speedway last year, took an instant liking to the track when he first visited in 1997. In a trio of races for the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) in 1997, Sides finished fourth, third and third at the high-banked, four-tenths-mile. In 2015, Sides powered his way from seventh to contend for the victory late in the going with Danny Lasoski and Donny Schatz.
Quite a Few Laps
Paul McMahan made his first trip to I-80 Speedway with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series in 1997. The Californian, who now calls the Nashville area home, has competed eight different seasons with the series at I-80 Speedway. McMahan finished a career-best third at the track in 2014. He also earned a top-five finish, with a fourth-place showing, in the fall of 1999 at I-80 Speedway. McMahan has five top-10 finishes at the track in his career.
Sooners in the Cornhusker State
A pair of Oklahoma-born drivers, Daryn Pittman and Shane Stewart (who both now call the Indianapolis area home) are following the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series again in 2016. Pittman, the 2013 series champion, who drives for Kasey Kahne Racing, has six top-10 finishes at I-80 Speedway in his career, with a best finish of fifth in May of 2000. Stewart, who pilots the No. 2 for the Larson Marks Racing team, finished fifth last year at I-80 Speedway.
The Next Generation
Four drivers, who are part of the next generation of World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series drivers have each made two appearances at I-80 Speedway. Brad Sweet, who drives for Kasey Kahne Racing, and currently is second in points, has had the best results of the bunch, with a seventh-place finish last year and an eighth-place performance in 2014. David Gravel, Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen are all looking for their first top-10 finishes at I-80 Speedway.
New Comers
Greg Wilson and Clyde Knipp are both competing for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series in 2016. Wilson, a two-time Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions titlist, has raced twice in the state of Nebraska in his career. Both of those starts came at Junction Motor Speedway. Knipp, who graduated from high school last month, will be making his first start on Nebraska soil.
Tickets for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Showdown at I-80 Speedway on Wednesday, June 22 can be purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com.
Discount General Admission tickets can also be purchased at participating NAPA Auto Parts stores. With the $5 discount at NAPA Auto Parts locations, an adult General Admission ticket is $32 and a children’s General Admission ticket (ages 6-12) is $12. Ticket buyers will bring their receipt and exchange for a ticket at the ticket booth on race day.
For more information on tickets, visit http://slspromotions.ticketforce.com.
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