By Tony Veneziano
HARTFORD, Mich. — September 14, 2016 — The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to Hartford Speedway in Michigan on Wednesday, September 21 for an event that was postponed by rain on July 29. All tickets and pit passes purchased for the originally scheduled race will be honored on September 21. A complete race program awaits, beginning with hot laps, followed by time trials, heat races, a dash and 25-lap A-Feature event.
In the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series last race at Hartford Speedway in 2011, Joey Saldana picked up the win. That victory for the veteran driver was an emotional one, as it was his first race back after suffering injuries a couple of months earlier at the famed Eldora Speedway in Ohio, during the Kings Royal. Saldana scored the win at Hartford over two-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion Jason Meyers and Craig Dollansky. Saldana has also visited victory lane at Hartford with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions and Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association.
A total of four former World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champions have won at the “Wicked Half-Mile” over the years, including Dave Blaney in 1995, Sammy Swindell also in 1995, Meyers in 2004 and Steve Kinser in 2005.
Donny Schatz leads the way into Hartford Speedway, as he closes in on his eighth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series title. The North Dakota native has a series-leading 21 A-Feature wins, which marks the fourth straight year he has won at least 20 years, making him the first drivers in series history to accomplish that feat. Hartford Speedway is one of the few tracks the Outlaws visit that Schatz has not won at in his career. The veteran driver is a past winner in the state of Michigan at both I-96 Speedway and Berlin Raceway.
David Gravel, who sits second in points, has been one of the most consistent drivers this season. He has won nine races, which is a new career-high for the Connecticut native. Among Gravel’s wins are the $25,000 Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway in Pennsylvania as well taking the checkered flag in the Joker’s Wild event during Kings Royal weekend at the famed Eldora Speedway.
Daryn Pittman is currently third in the standings for Kasey Kahne Racing, just three points behind Gravel. The veteran driver has seven wins this season. Pittman’s teammate, Brad Sweet, is just 18 points behind him in the standings and has also reach victory lane seven times thus far in 2016. Saldana rounds out the top-five in points and has four wins as he closes in on 100 career A-Feature triumphs with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.
Shane Stewart is sixth in points, on the strength of six wins. Jason Johnson, who won the $150,000 Knoxville Nationals last month, to earn the biggest win of his career, sits seventh. Logan Schuchart, who scored his first-career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series win earlier this season in eighth, Jason Sides, who also has a victory in 2016 ninth and Paul McMahan rounds out the top-10.
Greg Wilson and Clyde Knipp are both contending for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award in 2016. Wilson has raced at Hartford Speedway in the past with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions, while Knipp will be making his first start at the half-mile.
All tickets and pit passes purchased for the originally scheduled race will be honored on September 21. Tickets for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event at Hartford Speedway in Hartford, Michigan on Wednesday, September 21 can be purchased online at https://slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by calling SLS Promotions at 815-344-2023.
Discount General Admission tickets are available for purchase at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts stores. Each General Admission 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 https://slspromotions.ticketforce.com.
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