World
of Outlaws Sprint Car Series News & Notes
Concord, NC—
December 29, 2008—
Back Up Front: Donny
Schatz, the three-time and defending World of Outlaws champion,
rebounded in impressive fashion after losing a driveline on Boxing Day at
Parramatta City Raceway in Australia, winning on Sunday night against a
number of fellow World of Outlaws drivers. The North Dakota native was the
fifth fastest in time
trials en route to scoring his 30th career win at
Parramatta. Kerry Madsen, the 2007 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie
of the Year with the World of Outlaws finished third, with Jason
Sides fifth and Kraig
Kinser ninth. Steve
Kinser, who won last Friday night at Parramatta finished 12th.All
five drivers return to action this week in three events, culminating with
the annual $50,000 to win event on Saturday which will see a number of other
World of Outlaws drivers in action.
Speedweek Down Under:
Daryn Pittman, who won four times with the World of Outlaws in 2008, is in
the midst of competing in the annual Speedweek with the World
Series Sprintcars in Australia. He finished fourth in the opening
event at Speedway City in Adelaide and also was in the Top-10 at Murray
Bridge Speedway in the second race. He returns to action on Tuesday
night at Avalon Raceway,
followed by an event on New Year’s Day at Premier Stadium.
Gearing up for the
finale: Joey
Saldana and Craig Dollansky, who will be teammates in 2009 with Kasey
Kahne Racing on the World
of Outlaws trail, have one more weekend of racing in New Zealand
this weekend for the Salter Motorsport team in the $20,000 annual
International championship at Springs Speedway. Saldana currently leads
the International championship standings as he looks to claim the title.
Each driver has one win in New Zealand so far this off-season.
Season Review Videos:
With the 2009 season just around the corner, video season
reviews of each of the Top-10 in the 2008 World of Outlaws Sprint
Car Series Standings, as well as Kevin Gobrecht Rookie
of the Year Lucas Wolfe can be viewed by visiting: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com/sprint/Media/110208_SP_Banquet_2008/Media.aspx.
Click on the video tab to access the season reviews. Also, photos from the
2008 World of Outlaws Night
of Champions can be viewed along with the videos.
On the Air: The Racers
Network on KGKI Radio will feature a special segment highlighting the 2008
World of Outlaws season live on Tuesday, December 30 at 5 p.m. Eastern.
The show hosted by Gregg Kielma originates each weekday night at 5 p.m.
Eastern on 1490AM in the Bay area of Florida and can be heard online via
streaming audio at: http://www.kgkiradio.com.
Midget Madness: A
number of World of Outlaws drivers will compete in the 23rd Annual Chili
Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, January13-17. World of Outlaws
drivers that will be in action during the Tuesday, January 13 qualifying
portion of the event include: 2001 series champion Danny
Lasoski and 2006 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Chad Kemenah. In
action on Thursday, January 15 will be Jason Meyers, who finished second
in the World of Outlaws championship standings in 2008. In action on
Friday, January 16 will be Daryn Pittman along with Joey Saldana. Also
competing will be 2007 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Inductee Shane
Carson, the head of Industry Relations for the World of Outlaws, who will
take part in Tuesday’s qualifying night, along with Brian Carter, the
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the World Racing
Group, who will take part in the Wednesday night portion of the event.
Countdown
to 2009: A Look Back at Five Memorable World
of Outlaws Races from 2008
Concord, NC—
December 30, 2008—With just two days remaining in 2008, five of the most
exciting races of the World of Outlaws season will be re-visited for five
consecutive days in chronological order.
The fourth event that
will be featured will be the October 17 race from Ocean Speedway in
Watsonville, California. The race saw Jac Haudenschild battle Steve
Kinser in heavy lapped traffic on the ¼-mile, nearly taking the
lead a couple of times, before the 20-time series champion prevailed. Both
drivers climbed out of their cars on the front straightaway after the race
and gave each other high-fives.
“It’s always fun
to run with Haud,” said Kinser with a smile after the win. “We have
had some fun ones over the years. We’re both fortunate that we are able
to stand up in the seat and still get the job done once in a while.”
For a full race report
as well as complete results from this race and a photo of Kinser visit: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com/sprint/News/2008/October/101708_SP_RACEREPORT.aspx.
Kinser started sixth in the 40-lap
contest, but moved up to the outside of the front row after Daryn Pittman
and Terry
McCarl who lined up second and fourth got together on the initial
start after McCarl’s car broke, bringing out a red flag. On the second
start, Kinser won a drag
race down the front straightaway with Danny
Lasoski and led high into turn one. Lasoski dove under him in the
second corner to take the lead, which he would hold for the first eight
laps.
On the ninth lap, Kinser looked high on
Lasoski for the lead in turn three and then dove under him exiting turn
four to take the point as the pair negotiated lapped traffic. He would
lead the rest of the way, though Haudenschild closed in late.
Haudenschild made a bid for the lead on
the 35th lap, on the high side of turns one and two, drawing
even Kinser. He used the same line on the next lap to inch ahead of Kinser
on the back straightaway as the latter was held up by a lapped car. As the
pair entered turns three and four Haudenschild was bottled up, allowing
Kinser to get back by. Haudenschild battled back and rode the high side of
the track for the last three laps of the race as he tried to catch Kinser.
“The car felt good
tonight and has felt good all year long,” said Haudenschild. “We are
really glad to be driving that car. Leonard (Lee) has it working good. We
have a good race car
and have been hanging in there up front all year long.”
The 2009 World of
Outlaws season opens on February 6 at Volusia
Speedway Park in Florida, with the 38th Annual Alltel
DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH.
Countdown
to 2009: A Look Back at Five Memorable World
of Outlaws Races from 2008
Concord, NC—
December 29, 2008—With just three days remaining in 2008, five of the
most exciting races of the World of Outlaws season are being re-visited
for five consecutive days in chronological order.
The third event that
will be featured will be the race from September 21 at Lebanon Valley
Speedway in New York which had been postponed by rain prior to the
A-Feature on July 20. The race saw Jac Haudenschild charge off the high
side of the fourth turn on the last lap, threading the needle between
Jason Meyers and the wall to edge Meyers by just 0.014 seconds to earn his
50th career World
of Outlaws A-Feature win.
"It is pretty
special," said Haudenschild after the win. "We have been out
here for a long time and I definitely have a good ride this year. It's
good to know that you are getting in a good car each night. Leonard Lee
has the car going good. The car felt good tonight and has been fast all
year. We got a run him there on the restart over the last two laps and it
was a good one to win."
For a full race report
as well as complete results from this race and a photo of Haudenschild
visit: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com/sprint/News/2008/September/092108_SP_RACEREPORT.aspx
Haudenschild lined up
fourth for the event and was able to work his way around Donny
Schatz, as well as front row starter Sam Hafertepe Jr. on the first
lap to set his sights on Meyers.
A number of times during the middle stages of the race, he gained ground
in lapped traffic as Meyers was setting a blazing fast pace.
On the final restart
with two laps to go, Haudenschild looked to the high side of turns one and
two, with Meyers holding on to his lead down the back straightaway.
Haudenschild again looked high in turns three and four as the pair motored
their way toward the white flag. On the last lap, he again charged to the
high side of turns one and two and was right on Meyers down the back
straightaway. Just inches off the wall in turn four, Haudenschild was able
squeeze by Meyers as the pair worked their way to the checkered
flag.
Meyers
wound up leading 24 laps en route to a runner-up finish as he looked for
his second consecutive win at the high-banked half-mile.
“There’s just
about one driver here that could have put it on the top like that and gone
around you and that’s Haud (Jac Haudenschild) and I didn’t know he was
behind me,” said Meyers after the race. “He made a good pass and he
deserves to win. It’s unfortunate for our team. I thought we had that
one, but it’s not yours until it’s over. It’s still a good bounce
back after the crash we had the other night. Everyone is working very hard
and we’re looking forward to the rest of the week.”
The 2009 World of
Outlaws season opens on February 6 at Volusia
Speedway Park in Florida, with the 38th Annual Alltel
DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH.
Countdown
to 2009: A Look Back at Five Memorable World
of Outlaws Races from 2008
Concord,
NC— December 28, 2008—With just four days remaining in 2008, five of
the most exciting races of the World of Outlaws season will be re-visited
for five consecutive days in chronological order.
The
second event that will be featured is the inaugural
World of Outlaws race from Lucas
Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri that was held on September 14,
in which Jac
Haudenschild and Craig
Dollansky traded the lead five times over the course of the 35-lap
contest, with Haudenschild coming out on top.
“The
car felt good tonight and has been fast all year long,” said
Haudenschild after the win.
“Leonard Lee (Crew
Chief) has had the car working real good. We just can’t ask for
more, and we have everything we need to win.”
For a
full race report as well as complete results from this race and a photo of
Haudenschild visit: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com/sprint/News/2008/September/091408_SP_RACEREPORT.aspx
Haudenschild
took the lead for the first on the 18th lap, charging around Dollansky in
traffic in turn four. Dollansky powered his way down the front
straightaway and retook the lead heading into turns one and two on the
very next lap. He then opened a slight lead as he sliced his way through
traffic. Haudenschild caught him again on the 24th lap and took the top
spot. Dollansky battled right back and on the next lap again was back out
front. Haudenschild snagged the lead for the final time on the 26th lap as
he powered his way around Dollansky on the front straightaway and
completed the pass in turns one and two with a couple of wheels in the
air.
The
race began with Dollansky leading from the pole and Jason Meyers moving
into the second spot. Dollansky had a sizeable lead on the fourth lap when
the first caution flag of the night flew.
On the ensuing restart, he again charged to a
comfortable lead, while Haudenschild began to battle Jason Meyers for the
second spot. Haudenschild moved into second on the 11th lap in traffic and
quickly began to gain ground on Dollansky.
Haudenschild and Dollansky then began their epic
battle in traffic, over the next 15 laps. The pair sliced in and out of
traffic, often using lapped cars as picks as they battled for the top
spot.
With the laps winding down Donny
Schatz began to reel in Haudenschild when the caution flag flew
with three laps remaining. Haudenschild used a strong restart to hold off
Schatz down the stretch and pick up the $10,000 win.
“My
car was really good, and I just wasn’t running it through the middle
hard enough,” said Schatz. “We had a good shot at him at the yellow
and I just pushed too hard and got my corners all messed up. If he would
have made a mistake, I would have been by. He didn’t make any mistakes
the last three laps.”
The
2009 World of Outlaws season opens on February 6 at Volusia
Speedway Park in Florida, with the 38th Annual Alltel
DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH.
Countdown
to 2009: A Look Back at Five Memorable World
of Outlaws Races from 2008
Concord, NC—
December 27, 2008—With just five days remaining in 2008, five of the
most exciting races of the World of Outlaws season will be re-visited for
each of the next five days in chronological order.
The first event that
will be featured will be the race from April 5 at I-55
Raceway in Pevely, Missouri that saw Jason Meyers and Craig
Dollansky battle tooth and nail for the $10,000 win, with Meyers
leading the final nine laps of the 40-lap event and holding off a hard
charging Dollansky on the final lap, to win by mere inches on the always
racy high-banked 1/3-mile.
For a full race
report as well as complete results from this race and a photo of Meyers
visit: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com/sprint/News/2008/April/040508_SP_RACEREPORT.aspx.
“It’s
amazing the kind of start we have had this year,” said Meyers after the
win. “It’s certainly something we worked hard all winter for and hoped
to achieve. It’s something that usually is very hard to achieve and all
of the hard work is paying off now. These guys are working hard day in and
day out.”
The
race began with Dollansky leading from the pole, with Tim Shaffer and Joey
Saldana in-tow. Meyers used a strong start to move all the way from
the eighth spot on the grid to fourth, getting around Daryn Pittman, Danny
Lasoski, Jac
Haudenschild and Kerry Madsen.
By just the fourth lap of the 40-lap contest,
Dollansky was already in traffic, as he set a blistering pace. At this
same time, Meyers dove under Saldana to take the third spot. The first
stoppage of the night would follow on the seventh circuit, as the red flag
flew for a Billy Alley flip.
Dollansky quickly began to pull away on the restart,
with Meyers battling Shaffer for the runner-up position. Saldana retook
the third spot from Meyers on the ninth lap and set his sights on Shaffer.
Meyers closed back in on Saldana and after several
laps running side-by-side, he took the third spot. After battling with
Shaffer for a couple of laps, Meyers moved into second coming off the
fourth turn on the 23rd circuit.
One lap later, the red flag flew for the second time
on the night, as Kraig
Kinser had something break on his car, leading to him getting
upside down. On the ensuing restart, Dollansky opened a slight lead as
Meyers and Shaffer battled for the runner-up spot.
Dollansky encountered heavy traffic as the laps wound
down, opening the door for Meyers, who took the lead exiting the fourth
turn on the high side of the track on the 32nd lap. After opening a few
car length lead, Meyers was then bottled up in traffic, giving Dollansky a
shot at him.
Over the last few laps, Dollansky gave it everything
he had on the top side of the track as he chased down Meyers. With just a
couple of laps remaining, Dollansky charged off the fourth turn and used
the momentum to get side-by-side with Meyers nearly taking the lead.
As the pair took the white flag, Dollansky again used
the momentum on the top side of the high-banked 1/3-mile to make a charge
for the win, coming up just inches short at the line. For the victory
which was his second consecutive with the series and third of the 2008
campaign, Meyers pocketed $10,000.
“We got held up by a lot of those lapped cars and
it really cost us some time and that allowed the (No.) 14 to get by us,”
said Dollansky after leading the first 31 laps of the race. “It was a
good strong run us. Once I went to the top, we got beside him there at the
checkers. It would have been nice to have had another lap to get back
there. It was a good run, especially for all of the Snap-0n people that
were here tonight.”
The 2009 World of
Outlaws season opens on February 6 at Volusia
Speedway Park in Florida, with the 38th Annual Alltel
DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH.
World
of Outlaws Sprint Car Series News & Notes
Concord, NC—
December 26, 2008—With only a few days left in 2008, a number of World
of Outlaws drivers are getting a jump on the 2009 season by racing in a
couple of different parts of the world over the holiday season. Craig
Dollansky and Joey
Saldana have been competing in New Zealand for the last couple of
weeks, while three-time and defending series champion Donny
Schatz, 20-time title winner Steve
Kinser, 2003 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie
of the Year Kraig
Kinser, Jason Sides, the series top rookie in 2004 and Kerry
Madsen, the 2007 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, recently began a stint
at Parramatta City Raceway in Australia. A number of other series drivers
will also compete Down Under beginning next week.
Winning Down Under:
Steve Kinser led all 30 laps on Friday at Parramatta City Raceway in
Sydney, Australia to earn the win in the Valvoline Sprintcar Grand Prix
for the first time in his career. The native of Bloomington, Indiana has
eight total victories in his career at the track dating back to 1979.
Jason Sides finished a very solid third in his first start of the
off-season Down Under, with Australian native Kerry Madsen in fourth and
Kraig Kinser, Steve’s son, rounding out the Top-Five. Donny Schatz lost
a driveline in the main event, ending his night. All five drivers will be
back in action on Saturday night, as they continue to gear up for the
annual $50,000 to-win event which will be contested at Parramatta City
Raceway on January 2-3.
Victorious in New
Zealand: After finishing second in two consecutive events in New Zealand,
Joey Saldana picked up a win on Friday at Springs Speedway as he gears up
for the $20,000 to-win International championship on January 3. The native
of Brownsburg, Indiana currently leads the standings in the chase for the
International Sprintcar title. Saldana is driving for the always potent
Salter Motorsport team as a teammate to Craig
Dollansky, who will also be his teammate at Kasey
Kahne Racing in 2009 on the World of Outlaws trail.
Pittman Takes on
Aussie Speedweek: Daryn Pittman finished fourth on Friday at Speedway City
in Adelaide, Australia in the opener of the annual Speedweek for the World
Series Sprintcars. Pittman, the only American driver to ever win
the World Series title,
was the second fastest qualifier in the 42-car field. The native of
Owasso, Oklahoma returns to action on Saturday at Murray
Bridge Speedway aboard the Titan Racing machine.
DIRTcarNationals.com
Up and Running: A new web site dedicated to the 38th Annual
Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia
Speedway Park in Florida is now up and running. Information
pertaining to all 12 nights of action at the blazing fast half-mile can be
found at http://www.dirtcarnationals.com.
Tickets for the event can also be purchased by visiting the web site. The
38th annual Alltel DIRTcar National begins on February 3 and
runs through February 14, with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
taking to the track February 6-8, for three full nights of racing, with
the winner each night taking home $10,000. In the 11 events the series has
contested at the track dating back to 1979, 11 different drivers have
earned wins.
Thunderbowl Raceway
Tickets: Tickets for the World
of Outlaws two-day event at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare,
California on March 20-21 are now on sale. For tickets call the track at (559)
688-0909 or visit http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com
to find a seating chart for the race. Jac Haudenschild won in the series
last visit to the track on October 18, in one of the most exciting races
of the 2008 season, passing Steve Kinser in heavy lapped traffic for the
victory on the high-banked 1/3-mile.
2009 World of Outlaws Sprint
Car Series Schedule
