Kemenah Heats Up in World of Outlaws Return to Lawrenceburg

 

The Findlay, Ohio, native withstands Kraig Kinser in an epic, side-by-side battle

 

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. – May 28, 2012 – The hottest race day of the season produced arguably the best feature in a special Memorial Day event.

Fighting temperatures in the mid-90s and high humidity most of the day on Monday, Chad Kemenah outlasted Kraig Kinser to claim the first World of Outlaws feature at Lawrenceburg Speedway since 2009.

“I seen Kraig get underneath me a couple of times and I figured we were going to win it or wear it,” Kemenah said. “Kraig, he’s an awesome race car driver. He could have probably pinched me off there a couple of times. He raced me like I race him I believe and that matters.”

The duo traded the lead several times and battled side by side for nearly three consecutive laps. With Kemenah maintaining his momentum on the high lane, Kinser hit his marks on the bottom groove to stay within striking distance of first place.

Kemenah snuck by at the flag stand on lap 30 and barely edged Kinser on the ensuing lap, when a yellow flag was waved for a spin by Cody Darrah in turn four. Kemenah chose the inside lane on the double-file restart – which he had to do twice after the initial attempt was called back for Donny Schatz starting too early – and pulled away to his second Outlaws win of the season.

“It’s hard to win these things,” Kemenah said. “You’re racing against Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, and Schatz and Joey (Saldana). They’re the best and they’re the best for a reason. Any time you win them, you cherish them because you just don’t know when the next one is going to be.”

The race was anything but a given for Kemenah, who caught a break when Danny Lasoski – who led the first 11 laps of the feature – pulled to the infield with a blown engine on lap 12. That gave Kemenah the top spot with polesitter Craig Dollansky in hot pursuit.

The first caution of the race happened on lap 14 when Darrah slowed dramatically in turn two. Kemenah rocketed to a sizeable advantage on the restart while Dollansky and Kinser traded slide jobs for the runner-up position for several laps.

Traffic began to play a role with approximately a dozen laps remaining as Dollansky closed to within a car length of Kemenah for the lead. However, Dollansky’s right rear tire blew going into turn one on lap 27 – ending his bid for the win.

The restart featured a wild battle between Kemenah and Kinser, who first found the lead as he exited turn two on the bottom of lap 28. Kemenah stayed on the cushion and the momentum carried him into the lead entering each corner, but Kinser’s bottom lane propelled him to the top spot exiting the turns.

“It was getting fun there,” Kinser said. “He was a little bit better than me on the top, could carry his momentum a little bit better and he pulled it off tonight.

“I couldn’t carry that much momentum around the bottom. I don’t know if I was a little too free everywhere so I wasn’t tight enough where I could carry momentum to keep up with him up top. I was just trying to run the bottom to make the track as short as I could and just try to keep the car straight and under control the whole time.”

Kinser led laps 28 and 29 by a nose, and at one point almost had his car entirely in front of Kemenah. But the outside lane prevailed and Kemenah led the lap prior to the caution with five laps remaining, giving him the opportunity to choose where to start on the double-file restart.

The inside lane proved effective as he easily drove into a comfortable lead by turn one before moving to the cushion for the remainder of the race. Kinser and Kyle Larson then put on a show to close out the final laps.

The duo swapped the runner-up position a handful of times before Kinser slipped by exiting turn four on the final lap.

“We definitely set up for the end there,” Larson said after a season-best third-place finish. “We were really good at the end. Maybe could have used another caution, but who knows I might have got hung out like Kraig did there on that last restart. I’ll take a third.

“It’s always satisfying just finishing in the top 10 with these guys.”

World of Outlaws points leader Steve Kinser placed fourth and David Gravel was fifth. Sammy Swindell, who set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 11.924 seconds, ended sixth with Kerry Madsen seventh and NASCAR star Tony Stewart eighth. Daryn Pittman finished ninth and Jason Sides rounded out the top 10.

Lasoski, Dollansky, Larson and Gravel each picked up a heat race victory, and Danny Smith claimed the Last Chance Showdown.

Lucas Wolfe utilized a provisional and charged from last – 25^th – to place 14^th, earning the KSE Hard Charger Award for the first time this season.

Lawrenceburg Speedway Notebook

Saldana Works for Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown Win

Saldana Works for Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown Win

The Brownsburg, Ind., native claims victory No. 3 in the heart of NASCAR country

 

CONCORD, N.C. – May 25, 2012 – Joey Saldana parked his sprint car in front of the near-capacity crowd at The Dirt Track at Charlotte and emerged with a renewed vigor.

Drenched in sweat and caked in dirt, the veteran celebrated his third World of Outlaws feature win on a hot Friday night at the $12,000-to-win Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown. The event in the heart of NASCAR was also broadcast live on SPEED.

“The racing people that normally don’t see what we do, at least they can see that we actually work in our race cars,” Saldana said. “You do get dirty, you sweat and it’s definitely a chore out there to drive a winged sprint car especially on dirt and especially on a track like this. At least they can see what we do and they appreciate that we’re actually going out there and working for a living.”

Saldana did exactly that at the semi-banked, 4/10-mile dirt oval, where he won twice in 2009. He led 23 of the 30 laps, including the final eight, to pick up his 79^th career World of Outlaws feature victory and the first in exactly six weeks.

“This is a place you need to win at,” he said. “It may not pay the most money, but it’s probably the most prestigious for sponsors and just recognition amongst people that pay our bills.

“Our main objective is to win races obviously, win the Knoxville Nationals, win the championship and win as many Outlaws shows as possible, and we haven’t been doing that lately. So this is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Saldana qualified seventh quickest and claimed his heat race, which locked him into the dash. The dash inversion was an eight, starting Saldana third. He finished fourth to line up on the outside of the second row for the main event.

Saldana quickly advanced to second place in turn one on the opening lap behind Sammy Swindell, who led the first six laps. On a restart of lap seven, Saldana pulled off an effective slide job on Swindell in turn two for the lead.

He pulled away before Ed Lynch Jr. brought out a caution on lap 11 with a flat right rear tire. Saldana chose the outside lane for the double-file restart and sailed to a big advantage before a caution on lap 15 for Matt Linder bunched the field together.

NASCAR star Tony Stewart, who started 12^th after winning the Last Chance Showdown, worked his way into the top five on the restart and Swindell faded with smoke pouring from his engine. He pulled into the infield on lap 20.

Saldana faced his biggest task when Steve Kinser took advantage of an opportunity in traffic on the 22^nd circuit. However, Kinser’s lead was short-lived as his left rear tire blew on the backstretch of the ensuing lap.

That gave the lead back to Saldana, who outlasted a strong finish by Donny Schatz and a late charge from Craig Dollansky.

“It definitely was better when the fuel load would come off,” Schatz said after his runner-up performance. “Any time you get the tires worn down it’s going to be harder to drive. Joey kept good care of his tires staying up there on the top. I was better at the end than I was at the beginning.

“We would have really liked to win, but tonight we’re going to settle for second.”

Dollansky overcame an early issue in qualifying, which sent him to the pits with the 23^rd-best time. He claimed the sixth-and-final transfer from his heat race and then maneuvered his way from 21^st to round out the podium.

“Any time you start that far back and get that far up toward the front it’s a good night for your entire team,” Dollansky said. “Our car was getting better as the race was wearing on. I would have liked to see five more laps. Even in the open track we were starting to come on pretty good there at the end. To start 21^st and get up to third, that’s a great run.”

Polesitter Kraig Kinser finished fourth and Cody Darrah survived a flip in his heat race to place fifth in the feature. Brad Sweet was sixth, NASCAR driver and the owner of Saldana’s car, Kasey Kahne, ended seventh and Jason Sides placed eighth. Kerry Madsen, who set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 13.811 seconds, finished ninth and Chad Kemenah charged from 17^th to round out the top 10.

Steve Kinser finished 13^th, but maintains the World of Outlaws points lead by 12 over Schatz.

Stewart, who owns the cars for Kinser and Schatz, was 19^th after a part in the suspension broke on lap 27 while he was running fourth.

Saldana, Kraig Kinser and Lynch Jr. each claimed a heat race.

Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown Notebook

NOTES – This was the World of Outlaws first televised event of the season. … Garrett Dollansky, the 18-year-old son of Craig Dollansky, competed in his first career World of Outlaws event in one of Craig’s backup cars. … Kerry Madsen picked up his first quick time of the year. … Ed Lynch Jr. claimed his first World of Outlaws heat race win of the season. … Kraig Kinser earned his first feature pole of the season. … NASCAR star Tony Stewart won his second Last Chance Showdown of the season.

CONTINGENCY WINNERS

24th annual NHRA Dollar General Summer Nationals

24^th annual NHRA Dollar General Summer Nationals

Heartland Park Topeka

Topeka, KS
May 20, 2012

* * * *

Final round results from Sunday’s 24^th annual NHRA Dollar General Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, eighth race in the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

FUNNY CAR –Jack Beckman, Norco, Calif., Valvoline Dodge Charger, 4.158, 303.09 mph def. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., NAPA Dodge Charger, 4.107, 304.39 mph.

TOP FUEL – David Grubnic, Ypsilanti, Mich., Candlewood Suites dragster, 3.893, 319.07 mph def. Spencer Massey, Ft. Worth, Tex., FRAM dragster, 3.910, 309.98 mph.

PRO STOCK – Allen Johnson, Greenville, Tenn., MOPAR Dodge Avenger, 6.587, 210.54 mph def. Greg Anderson, Mooresville, NC, Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac, 6.696, 210.21 mph.

* * * *

HIGHT MISSES TOPEKA THREE-PEAT

TOPEKA, KS — Robert Hight’s bid for a three-peat at the NHRA Dollar General Summer Nationals fell short in the semi-finals when his Auto Club Ford Mustang smoked the tires versus Ron Capps at Heartland Park Topeka. Hight will hold onto his substantial points lead in the Funny Car standings as the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series moves to Englishtown, New Jersey in two weeks.

“I really wanted to get three in a row here in Topeka. The fans here are great and you just want to defend your title every chance you get,” said Hight. “We got some luck in the second round against Cruz and had the same problem in the semis. You usually don’t get wins like that against him. This Auto Club Mustang kind of makes its own luck sometimes. (Crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) and (assistant crew chief) Eric (Lane) are already working on a solution and I know they will get it figured out. You look at my round record so far this season, 22-4, and this was only the eighth race. I am really proud of our performance so far.”

Racing in the tough left lane Hight’s Auto Club Ford Mustang left on Capps with a starting line advantage of .054 to .071 but at approximately 200 feet his Mustang hazed the tires and Capps pulled away for the win. It was the third race in a row for Capps to eliminate Hight in either the semi-finals (Houston and today) or finals (Atlanta). This will be the first race of the NHRA season that John Force Racing did not have a Funny Car in the final.

Hight made the best run of the opening session – and the day for Funny Cars – against teammate Courtney Force, 4.050 to her 4.124. He had lane choice over Cruz Pedregon in the second round and in one of the craziest races of the weekend Hight smoked the tires but he watched Cruz cross the center line for an automatic disqualification. In an instant Hight went from being the last JFR Funny Car eliminated to being the last JFR Funny Car standing. The biggest down side of the race was the fact that Hight posted no time and lost lane choice to Ron Capps which proved to be crucial.

“We knew the clouds were coming in for first round. It is too bad we didn’t make that run on Friday night. It was a tough first round racing Courtney but that 4.05 was strong. That is how we need to run all the time and that is what we are going to continue to set as our goal. We want to be the quickest Funny Car in qualifying and every round on Sunday. We have a team that is capable of doing that and the real positive is we have teammates like Courtney and the Traxxas team and Neff with his Castrol Mustang that can do that. We saw John’s car start turning around this weekend so we will be ready in Englishtown.”

In the second round Mike Neff lost a close race to Don Schumacher Racing’s Jack Beckman. Neff’s Castrol GTX Ford Mustang hazed the tires right before Beckman got his hands full on a wild ride of his own. Beckman’s winning time of 4.386 was a far cry from his opening round 4.123 as the conditions warmed up at Heartland Park Topeka.

“We didn’t do well in second round against Jack (Beckman). There was one pair of dragsters in front of us going into second round that oiled the track and they were having a hard time getting the track cleaned up after that. They told us it would be ten minutes and then came back and said it would be another five, and so on. It was taking a while so the dragsters in front of us swapped lanes probably, because of that. We didn’t have lane choice either over Beckman,” said Neff.

“He (Beckman) was originally over in the left lane, but moved over to the right, which put us in the lane that had been oiled down. You don’t ever know for sure what’s going on down there. I mean, NHRA usually does a pretty good job of getting a mess like that cleaned up, but it’s still not going to be the lane you want to have. That’s why lane choice is important; because we would have probably moved out of that lane to if we would have seen that happen in front of us.”

Neff took out Tony Pedregon in the first round with a tire smoking 4.338 to Pedregon’s 4.679. Neff extended his winning record to 11-7 over the two-time NHRA Funny Car world champion and he has bested Pedregon the last eight times the pair have matched up in the first round.

“We qualified really well this weekend, which is a big step up taking into account last weekend when we didn’t make the show. Sometimes just qualifying can be difficult. So, we made the show I the No. 3 spot and took out Tony Pegregon in the opening round,” said Neff.

“We made a good pass this weekend on our night run, and then turned around and made a good pass in the heat as well, so all in all, I feel pretty good about our car. Like I said, we’re working on some different stuff. Today, we just didn’t get it all right. Anyway, it was an alright weekend and we’re always learning from these runs. We’ll be looking forward to going to Englishtown next where we won last year and its Castrol’s hometown.”

The first round loss for Rookie of the Year front-runner Courtney Force was a tough loss but she took some positive performance steps forward this weekend. Her losing time of 4.124 would have won a handful of the other first round races.

“We went up and had my teammate and brother-in-law Robert Hight for first round. He’s definitely one of the toughest competitors out here. He has won four races already this year and they’re team is really on fire. We had pretty even cars in qualifying, we qualified 8 and 9. You always know you have to be on your “A” game when you go up against someone like Robert. He’s a good leaver and he has Jimmy Prock tuning his car,” said Courtney Force.

“They ended up pulling out a 4.05 ET on me, which was hard to beat. My Traxxas Mustang has been consistent all weekend and we’ve been trying to push it to go quicker and quicker on each pass, but it just wasn’t enough against his 4.05. We ran a 4.12, but it dropped a cylinder so it really was going for a pretty good run.”

For nine-time Dollar General Summer Nationals winner John Force Sunday’s first round was improvement but the Castrol GTX HIGH MILEAGE Ford Mustang did not advance past Johnny Gray. In a close race Force, the No. 12 qualifier, was ousted by No. 5 qualifier Gray, 4.102 to 4.142. Force’s time was his second quickest of the weekend and huge improvement over times from the last event in Atlanta.

At the Summit Racing Southern Nationals Force’s Castrol GTX HIGH MILEAGE averaged 4.247 seconds and his quickest elapsed time was 4.19 which he posted during the Friday night session. This weekend his average elapsed time was 4.174 with a quick ET of 4.136 and his opening round ET of 4.142 was much quicker than his opening round time in Atlanta (4.269 seconds). Force and his team are seeing improvement as they move into the hot summer months and for the 15-time NHRA Funny Car champion he is encouraged by the progress.

 

* * * *

FULL THROTTLE POINT STANDINGS

FUNNY CAR – 1. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 775; 2. Ron Capps, 596; 3. Mike Neff, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 557; 4. Jack Beckman, 491; 5. Cruz Pedregon, 467; 6. Johnny Gray, 438; 7. Bob Tasca III, 419; 8. John Force, Castrol GTX HIGH MILEAGE Ford Mustang, 386; 9. Courtney Force, Traxxas Ford Mustang, 358; 10. Jeff Arend, 355.

TOP FUEL – 1. Spencer Massey, 670; 2. Tony Schumacher, 658; 3. Antron Brown, 638; 4. Morgan Lucas, 598; 5. Steve Torrence, 527; 6. Doug Kalitta, 452; 7. Shawn Langdon, 420; 8. David Grubnic, 405; 9. Brandon Bernstein, 399; 10. Bob Vandergriff, 384.

PRO STOCK – 1. Greg Anderson, 755; 2. Jason Line, 662; 3. Allen Johnson, 623; 4. Vincent Nobile, 542; 5. Mike Edwards, 529; 6. Erica Enders, 430; 7. Ronnie Humphrey, 381; 8. Shane Gray, 332; 9. Roger Brogdon, 319; 10. Greg Stanfield, 309.

 

THE DRIVERS

JOHN FORCE, 63, Castrol GTX HIGH MILEAGE Ford Mustang

Qualifying: 12^th quickest at 4.136 seconds, 306.60 mph

Bonus Qualifying Points: 0

Race results: Lost to Johnny Gray.

 

MIKE NEFF, 45, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang

Qualifying: 3^rd quickest at 4.063 seconds, 311.05 mph

Bonus Qualifying Points: +2 (3^rd quickest of Q2 and Q3)

Race results: Beat Tony Pedregon. Lost to Jack Beckman.

 

ROBERT HIGHT, 42, Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang
Qualifying: 9^th at 4.110 seconds, 306.88 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +1 (3^rd quickest of Q1)

Race results: Beat Courtney Force, Cruz Pedregon. Lost to Ron Capps.

 

COURTNEY FORCE, 23, Traxxas Ford Mustang
Qualifying: 8^th at 4.109 seconds, 310.13 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +5 (2^nd quickest of Q3 and quickest of Q4)

Race results: Lost to Robert Hight.

 

Kinser Victorious Once Again at Orange County Fair Speedway

Kinser Victorious Once Again at Orange County Fair Speedway

‘The King’ ties Swindell for the World of Outlaws championship points lead

 

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – May 19, 2012 – Like they did in the ’70s and ’80s and ’90s, Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell are battling for a World of Outlaws championship.

Swindell, who leads the series with four victories, has been in or around the points lead since the start of the season. Kinser has gotten hot recently and capitalized on the momentum.

He snapped a 27-race winless streak exactly a week ago and added to an impressive record on Saturday at Orange County Fair Speedway, where Kinser won for the sixth time in 22 features, claimed career Outlaws victory No. 572 and pulled into a tie atop the World of Outlaws championship standings with Swindell.

“It’s nothing that hasn’t happened many years before,” Kinser said of his renewed rivalry with Swindell.

Kinser led all 25 laps of the main event at the 5/8-mile oval, which has featured a different winner in the past six World of Outlaws events dating back to 1999. However, Kinser is a familiar face in Victory Lane.

He claimed the first race at Orange County Fair Speedway in 1983 and won five more within a decade. After starting on the pole on Saturday, it appeared that his sixth victory – which is twice as many as any other driver – was eminent.

Kinser rocketed to a 10-car advantage in front of son, Kraig Kinser, on the opening lap. The duo paced the field with Kraig beginning to close the gap on lap five. They entered traffic on the ninth lap and were side by side on the frontstretch of lap 10.

The elder maintained the lead and the preferred lane around the bottom. The race went cautionless until lap 21 when it became just the opposite.

There were eight cautions and a red flag for a fuel stop in the final five laps. In fact, only three drivers of the 24 starters weren’t involved in a caution or didn’t pull into the pits.

“I was up front where I could be a little bit easier on tires,” Kinser said. “I nursed mine as much as I could. We just barely made it ourselves.

“It’s a bad feeling when you’re sitting there leading the race and you’re seeing half the field change tires and put new tires on ….”

Kraig Kinser was one of the catastrophes as a tire issue on the final lap dropped him from the runner-up position to 15^th. That allowed Swindell to gain a few positions in the final laps to salvage a second-place finish and keep himself tied for the points lead.

“When we took off I could see that guys were just slipping the tires way too much,” Swindell said. “This place is real abrasive, so I just sat back there and rode for half the race. I just wanted to make sure I had tires at the end.”

Frank Cozze earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after maneuvering from last – 24^th – to place third.

“Well we got a little bit of luck out there with the guys with the tires,” he said. “Plus I’ve probably raced here about 35 or 36 years, so I kinda know the place. You’ve gotta kind of cool it at the beginning and get lucky. And we got lucky. If it had run straight through we would have run 15^th.

“It feels pretty good to get a podium finish with anybody. I don’t care if it was Mickey Mouse at this point.”

Daryn Pittman rebounded from causing a caution on a restart of lap 22 because of a tire issue. He restarted 19^th and finished fourth. David Gravel rounded out the top five after facing a similar fate because of a flat tire with three laps remaining.

Joey Saldana was sixth, Fred Rahmer seventh, Paul McMahan eighth, Craig Dollansky ninth and Lucas Wolfe placed 10^th. All went to the work area at some point during those final five laps to fix a flat tire.

Logan Schuchart set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 17.336 seconds, which was more than four-tenths quicker than anyone else. Swindell outlasted Steve Kinser to win the first heat race and Kraig Kinser and McMahan also claimed a heat race. Davey Franek won the Last Chance Showdown.

The World of Outlaws head to Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, Md., for the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet presents the Kasey Kahne Challenge brought to you by O’Neill Race Gear event on Sunday.

Orange County Fair Speedway Notebook

NOTES – E. Tetz & Sons put up a $5,000 bonus to the winner if he or she wasn’t a regular on the World of Outlaws circuit. … Sammy Swindell won his eighth World of Outlaws heat race, which is twice as many as any other driver. … Davey Franek became the 19^th different Last Chance Showdown winner in 20 events this season. … This was the first World of Outlaws race at Orange County Fair Speedway since 2008.

McMahan Trucks to World of Outlaws Win at Rolling Wheels

McMahan Trucks to World of Outlaws Win at Rolling Wheels

Nashville driver dominates ‘The Fast Track’ after getting help from unlikely sources

 

ELBRIDGE, N.Y. – May 16, 2012 – Attention all CDL drivers: Paul McMahan needs a volunteer.

A former touring Outlaw who has already pieced together rides with four different teams this season, McMahan can’t make it to the next race without a certified trucker.

It doesn’t matter if you haven’t met. After all, he picked up his first World of Outlaws win of the season Wednesday at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park thanks to the help of a truck driver he found on Facebook.

“Don’t ask me his name because I don’t know,” McMahan said with a big grin.

With only one crew member – Cody Jacobs – McMahan pieced together his way to the track, around the 5/8-mile oval and out of Victory Lane.

“We don’t even have a four-wheeler,” he said. “We had to bum a ride to get from Victory Lane.”

Despite only having seven spare tires – three right rears, three left rears and one front – and a couple of extra wings, McMahan set the tone for the SPEEDfest event from the drop of the green flag, was patient on a couple of double-file restarts and cruised to his first World of Outlaws victory since Sept. 9 of last year.

“This is where I want to be,” McMahan said. “I want to race with the World of Outlaws. This is where I belong. This is what I want to do. So to come out here and to bounce from car to car is tough to do.

“This is very cool for me. This is one of the top (wins). It’s not as high as my first one, but this one’s really high for me because I got released after one of my best years last year with the World of Outlaws and to come back and show these guys that I can still get the job done is very gratifying.”

After qualifying fifth quick and finishing fifth in his heat race, McMahan, who is currently driving for Tom Buch, advanced to the dash. The dash inversion was a six, starting him on the outside of the front row for the six-lap race. He led the entire race to earn the pole for the 25-lap feature.

It didn’t take long for McMahan to build a giant lead in the main event. With a twister of dust being kicked up around the track, McMahan rocketed to the big advantage on the opening lap. He reached traffic on lap six as David Gravel was the only driver to stay within striking distance.

A caution on lap 10 for the first of two spins by April Wilson bunched the field together and McMahan chose the outside lane on the double-file restart. He again launched to a sizeable margin before getting into traffic on lap 15. Gravel’s throttle linkage broke on lap 18, forcing a caution and sending him to the infield for the remainder of the event.

Chad Kemenah restarted second, but Craig Dollansky roared by on the outside as they exited turn two of the restart and McMahan set sail.

“We really want to congratulate Paul McMahan,” Kemenah said. “He’s an awesome guy.”

The final caution of the race for Wilson’s second spin set up a green-white-checker finish and McMahan was untouchable once again. He built more than a one-second lead in the final two laps en route to the win.

Dollansky held off Kemenah for the runner-up position.

“Paul did a good job and drove a great race,” Dollansky said. “I think he was just actually a little better than I was in the open track. I got close to him on the restarts, but there just wasn’t quite enough room to get by. My hat’s off to him and his team. He did a great job with a lower-funded team and for Paul, it’s great to see him get a win here tonight.”

Danny Lasoski finished fourth with Steve Kinser in fifth. Cody Darrah, who set fast time with a lap of 16.257 seconds, was sixth and Sammy Swindell held onto his World of Outlaws points lead with a seventh-place result after two engine changes during the night. Donny Schatz was eighth, Joey Saldana ninth and Kraig Kinser rounded out the top 10.

Lasoski, Saldana and Swindell each claimed a heat race victory and Justin Barger won the Last Chance Showdown.

By the way, McMahan needs that truck driver by Saturday. He plans to head to Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., for the next World of Outlaws event.

SPEEDfest Notebook

 

NOTES – Cody Darrah became the 12^th different driver to earn a fast-time award. … Sammy Swindell won his series-best seventh heat race of the season despite something breaking in his engine midway through the race. … Justin Barger is the 18^th different Last Chance Showdown winner in 19 World of Outlaws events this season. … Paul McMahan is the 11^th different feature winner this season. … It’s the fourth consecutive race with a driver picking up his first World of Outlaws feature win of the season.

CONTINGENCY WINNERS - MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Paul McMahan; Armor All (case of product): Paul McMahan; STP ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; UNOH ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; JE Pistons (set of rings): Kerry Madsen; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Jac Haudenschild; Superflow ($50 cash): Jac Haudenschild; JE Pistons ($50 cash): George Suprick; JE Pistons (set of rings): George Suprick; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Jac Haudenschild; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Justin Barger.

Kinser Restores World of Outlaws Pride with Morgan Cup Victory

 

The King dominates features at Williams Grove, tightens championship points race

 

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – May 12, 2012 – Steve Kinser cruised to a pair of victories Saturday at a packed and rowdy Williams Grove Speedway, first snapping his 27-race winless streak with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and later claiming the Morgan Cup on behalf of the series.

Kinser, the World of Outlaws career wins leader, entered the event with only five feature laps led this season. That changed dramatically as he led the final 23 laps of the $12,000-to-win main event and then dominated all 12 laps of the Morgan Cup – a race featuring five World of Outlaws drivers and five Pennsylvania Posse drivers in a showdown about bragging rights, a sterling silver trophy and an additional $4,000 prize.

“We had been running top fives, but hadn’t been able to get to Victory Lane,” Kinser said. “We got two tonight.”

It was his 571^st World of Outlaws feature win and 38^th total Outlaws victory at the famed half mile. Both numbers are more than double the next closest driver.

The win combined with trouble from Sammy Swindell and Donny Schatz, who entered the race 54 and 46 points ahead of Kinser, respectively, created an even closer points battle.

Swindell, who had a tire issue while running fifth on lap 23, finished 24^th. He holds an eight-point advantage over Kinser. Schatz, who violently flipped in turns three and four on the restart following Swindell’s caution, is third in the standings – 12 points behind Swindell.

Kinser qualified fourth quickest of the 41 drivers and charged from fourth to second in his heat race to lock himself into the dash. The random inversion was a six, starting Kinser on the inside of the second row – which is where he finished.

Kinser darted to second on the opening lap of the feature as Craig Dollansky rocketed into the lead. As drivers were in various lines across the track, Kinser was the premier car on the bottom and he used a run off turn two to grab the lead on lap 8.

He quickly pulled away until the first caution of the race on lap 11 for Logan Schuchart, who spun out between turns one and two. Kinser chose the inside lane for the restart and again found himself with a comfortable before the caution waved on the restart lap for a handful of cars who collided in turn four.

“The only way we was going to get into any trouble was trying to pass some lapped cars,” he said. “I don’t know if I could have gotten out in the second groove and passed or not. I think I could move around as good as anybody.”

The inside lane worked for Kinser again on the restart and more drivers began to move to the bottom groove. Greg Hodnett passed Dollansky for the runner-up position on lap 12 and closed on Kinser as the duo entered traffic on lap 19.

The cautions for Swindell and Schatz closed the gap for Hodnett, who was unable to get around Kinser for the top spot.

“We did the best we could,” he said. “Unfortunately it turned out second. Considering Steve Kinser, the greatest World of Outlaws driver ever, just beat us, I think I can live with it.”

Polesitter Danny Lasoski, who dropped to fourth place in the first nine laps, rebounded toward the end of the race and he passed Hodnett for second place on the restart following Swindell’s caution only to have the position negated by Schatz’s red flag.

“Tonight starting on the pole we thought we had a really good shot at winning,” Lasoski said. “Steve went by us and he was stuck real good. And then the middle of the race here we come when (the track) cleaned off.

“As soon as we had the red flag I don’t know what happened. We pushed back off and had no brakes, so it was just like hanging on the last few laps.”

Lance Dewease finished fourth and Dollansky was fifth. Aaron Ott drove from 12^th to sixth, Daryn Pittman placed seventh, Stevie Smith was eighth and Danny Dietrich charged from 22^nd to ninth to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award.

Adam Wilt, who set quick time with a lap of 16.936 seconds, rounded out the top 10.

Lasoski, Sheldon Haudenschild, Hodnett and Pittman each claimed a heat race. Don Kreitz Jr. won the Last Chance Showdown.

Morgan Cup Notebook

NOTES – World of Outlaws driver Bill Rose was not in competition Saturday night at Williams Grove Speedway after learning overnight that his father passed away. The World of Outlaws sends its deepest condolences to Rose and his family. … The World of Outlaws has claimed the Morgan Cup in both years since its creation. … Sheldon Haudenschild won his first career World of Outlaws heat race, which locked him into his first career World of Outlaws dash. … Adam Wilt picked up his first World of Outlaws quick time.

CONTINGENCY WINNERS - Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Danny Lasoski; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Steve Kinser; Armor All (case of product): Daryn Pittman; STP ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; UNOH ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Don Kreitz Jr.; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Don Kreitz Jr.; JE Pistons (set of rings): Don Kreitz Jr.; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Don Kreitz Jr.; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah; Superflow ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; JE Pistons (set of rings): Kerry Madsen; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Sammy Swindell; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Sheldon Haudenschild.

WINNERS – Sammy Swindell – 4 (Eldora Speedway on May 5, Knoxville Raceway on April 28, Missouri State Fair Speedway on April 20 and Merced Speedway on March 30); Donny Schatz – 3 (Farmer City Raceway on April 25, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Craig Dollansky – 2 (Tri-State Speedway on April 21 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Tim Kaeding – 2 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8); Joey Saldana – 2 (Paducah International Raceway on April 13 and Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Danny Dietrich – 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 10); Chad Kemenah – 1 (Eldora Speedway on May 4); Steve Kinser – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 12); Danny Lasoski – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18); Fred Rahmer – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 11).

TIME TRIALS – Adam Wilt was the fastest qualifier around the half-mile oval with a time of 16.936 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Sammy Swindell (4 points), Lance Dewease (3), Steve Kinser (2) and Stevie Smith (1).

WE’RE ONLINE - Make sure to check out WorldofOutlaws.com for the latest news and results, plus exclusive driver interviews, video and pictures. Also listen to every event live at DIRTVision.com .

Morgan Cup Statistical Report; Williams Grove Speedway; Mechanicsburg, Pa.; May 12, 2012

A-Main – (30 Laps) – 1. 11-Steve Kinser [3] [$12,000]; 2. 39-Greg Hodnett [4] [$5,700]; 3. 98-Danny Lasoski [1] [$3,500]; 4. 30C-Lance Dewease [5] [$3,000]; 5. 7-Craig Dollansky [2] [$2,600]; 6. 77-Aaron Ott [12] [$2,400]; 7. 27-Daryn Pittman [6] [$2,300]; 8. 19-Stevie Smith [11] [$2,200]; 9. 48-Danny Dietrich [22] [$2,150]; 10. 15A-Adam Wilt [9] [$2,100]; 11. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [8] [$1,600]; 12. 69K-Don Kreitz [18] [$1,350]; 13. 63-Chad Kemenah [19] [$1,300]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13] [$1,200]; 15. 59-Jim Siegel [16] [$1,100]; 16. 51-Fred Rahmer [23] [$1,000]; 17. 3W-Sheldon Haudenschild [10] [$900]; 18. 5-Jac Haudenschild [15] [$850]; 19. 7L-Chad Layton [26] [$]; 20. 4-Cody Darrah [27] [$]; 21. 1Z-Sam Hafertepe Jr [20] [$800]; 22. 9-Joey Saldana [17] [$800]; 23. 29-Kerry Madsen [24] [$800]; 24. 1-Sammy Swindell [7] [$800]; 25. 15-Donny Schatz [25] [$]; 26. 1S-Logan Schuchart [21] [$800]; 27. 21-Brian Montieth [28] [$]; 28. 747-Davey Sammons [14] [$800]. Lap Leaders: Craig Dollansky 1-7. Steve Kinser 8-30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 48-Danny Dietrich [+13].

Qualifying – 1. 15A-Adam Wilt, 16.936; 2. 1-Sammy Swindell, 17.060; 3. 30C-Lance Dewease, 17.116; 4. 11-Steve Kinser, 17.147; 5. 19-Stevie Smith, 17.153; 6. 7-Craig Dollansky, 17.169; 7. 77-Aaron Ott, 17.193; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 17.210; 9. 98-Danny Lasoski, 17.236; 10. 3W-Sheldon Haudenschild, 17.250; 11. 39-Greg Hodnett, 17.294; 12. 747-Davey Sammons, 17.298; 13. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 17.306; 14. 5-Jac Haudenschild, 17.328; 15. 59-Jim Siegel, 17.346; 16. 27-Daryn Pittman, 17.366; 17. 9-Joey Saldana, 17.390; 18. 20S-Derek Sell, 17.429; 19. 69K-Don Kreitz, 17.434; 20. 63-Chad Kemenah, 17.442; 21. 1Z-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 17.497; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 17.555; 23. 48-Danny Dietrich, 17.618; 24. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 17.633; 25. 51-Fred Rahmer, 17.664; 26. 35-Justin Henderson, 17.677; 27. 15-Donny Schatz, 17.681; 28. 29-Kerry Madsen, 17.728; 29. 21-Brian Montieth, 17.748; 30. 75-Nicole Bower, 17.788; 31. 19M-Brent Marks, 17.792; 32. 87-Alan Krimes, 17.833; 33. 7L-Chad Layton, 17.841; 34. 30-Doug Esh, 18.032; 35. 16-Gerard McIntyre, 18.054; 36. 4-Cody Darrah, 18.060; 37. 11C-Cory Haas, 18.173; 38. 7S-Jason Sides, 18.197; 39. 44-Frank Cozze, 18.219; 40. 5G-Curt Michael, 18.457; 41. 12W-Troy Fraker, 18.869.

Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 98-Danny Lasoski [2]; 2. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [1]; 3. 15A-Adam Wilt [4]; 4. 19-Stevie Smith [3]; 5. 9-Joey Saldana [5]; 6. 1Z-Sam Hafertepe Jr [6]; 7. 7L-Chad Layton [9]; 8. 21-Brian Montieth [8]; 9. 51-Fred Rahmer [7]; 10. 11C-Cory Haas [10]; 11. 12W-Troy Fraker [11].

Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 3W-Sheldon Haudenschild [2]; 2. 7-Craig Dollansky [3]; 3. 1-Sammy Swindell [4]; 4. 5-Jac Haudenschild [1]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6]; 6. 30-Doug Esh [9]; 7. 35-Justin Henderson [7]; 8. 20S-Derek Sell [5]; 9. 7S-Jason Sides [10]; 10. 75-Nicole Bower [8].

Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 39-Greg Hodnett [2]; 2. 30C-Lance Dewease [4]; 3. 59-Jim Siegel [1]; 4. 77-Aaron Ott [3]; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich [6]; 6. 69K-Don Kreitz [5]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [7]; 8. 19M-Brent Marks [8]; 9. 44-Frank Cozze [10]; 10. 16-Gerard McIntyre [9].

Heat 4 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 27-Daryn Pittman [1]; 2. 11-Steve Kinser [4]; 3. 63-Chad Kemenah [5]; 4. 747-Davey Sammons [2]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3]; 6. 29-Kerry Madsen [7]; 7. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [6]; 8. 87-Alan Krimes [8]; 9. 4-Cody Darrah [9]; 10. 5G-Curt Michael [10].

Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature) – 1. 98-Danny Lasoski [1]; 2. 7-Craig Dollansky [2]; 3. 11-Steve Kinser [3]; 4. 39-Greg Hodnett [8]; 5. 30C-Lance Dewease [4]; 6. 27-Daryn Pittman [10]; 7. 1-Sammy Swindell [5]; 8. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [9]; 9. 15A-Adam Wilt [6]; 10. 3W-Sheldon Haudenschild [7].

B-Main – (12 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 69K-Don Kreitz [2] [-]; 2. 1Z-Sam Hafertepe Jr [3] [-]; 3. 51-Fred Rahmer [5] [-]; 4. 29-Kerry Madsen [8] [-]; 5. 35-Justin Henderson [6] [$200]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [7] [$180]; 7. 20S-Derek Sell [1] [$175]; 8. 7L-Chad Layton [13] [$160]; 9. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [4] [$150]; 10. 75-Nicole Bower [10] [$150]; 11. 87-Alan Krimes [12] [$150]; 12. 21-Brian Montieth [9] [$150]; 13. 4-Cody Darrah [14] [$150]; 14. 11C-Cory Haas [16] [$150]; 15. 19M-Brent Marks [11] [$150]; 16. 44-Frank Cozze [17] [$150]; 17. 16-Gerard McIntyre [15] [$15]; 18. 12W-Troy Fraker [18] [$150]; 19. 30-Doug Esh [19] [$150]; 20. 7S-Jason Sides [20] [$150]; 21. 5G-Curt Michael [21] [$150].

Morgan Cup – (12 laps) – 1. 11-Steve Kinser [1]. 2. 27-Daryn Pittman [2]. 3. 35-Justin Henderson [4]. 4. 7-Craig Dollansky [3]. 5. 30c-Lance Dewease [6]. 6. 51-Fred Rahmer [8]. 7. 15-Donny Schatz [5]. 8. Adam Wilt [10]. 9. 63-Chad Kemenah [9]. 10. 9-Joey Saldana [7].

World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Top 20 Championship Standings

Pos.	Driver	Total	Diff	Wins	T5s	T10s	QT
1	Sammy Swindell	2453	0	4	9	13	3
2	Steve Kinser	2445	-8	1	8	13	0
3	Donny Schatz	2441	-12	3	7	14	0
4	Joey Saldana	2398	-55	2	7	12	2
5	Craig Dollansky	2346	-107	2	7	10	2
6	Kraig Kinser	2334	-119	0	4	11	2
7	Chad Kemenah	2204	-249	1	2	6	2
8	Cody Darrah	2171	-282	0	3	5	0
9	Jason Sides	2159	-294	0	5	9	0
10	Lucas Wolfe	2119	-334	0	1	5	0
11	Kerry Madsen	2090	-363	0	2	3	0
12	Bill Rose	1753	-700	0	0	1	0
13	Jac Haudenschild	1429	-1024	0	0	1	0
14	Terry McCarl	1236	-1217	0	1	3	0
15	Danny Lasoski	1156	-1297	1	4	5	0
16	Paul McMahan	1148	-1305	0	0	0	0
17	Daryn Pittman	1102	-1351	0	3	5	1
18	Austen Wheatley	1096	-1357	0	0	2	0
19	Sam Hafertepe Jr.	1070	-1383	0	1	4	0
20	Jason Meyers	1054	-1399	0	3	4	1

Rahmer Rallies in Outlaws Season Debut at Williams Grove

 

Pennsylvania legend passes Hodnett for lead with five laps to go to claim the opener

 

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – May 11, 2012 – To say Fred Rahmer knows his way around Williams Grove Speedway is an understatement.

Since claiming the 1986 Rookie of the Year, Rahmer has amassed eight track championships en route to becoming the winningest driver in Williams Grove history. He added to that list on Friday and picked up his fifth career World of Outlaws feature victory in front of a packed crowd on Night 1 of a weekend doubleheader at the historic paper-clip half-mile oval.

“Any time you get a win against this group, plus our local guys, it’s a good win,” Rahmer said. “When you respect somebody as much as most of the guys around here respect (the Outlaws), it feels really good. It’s tough to put a whole night together and end up standing here in the winner’s circle.”

The Hall of Famer timed in third quick of the season-high 45 cars. He then finished fourth in his heat race to advance to the feature and lock himself into the dash. The invert was a six, starting Rahmer fourth in the six-lap dash. He gained a position to earn the third starting spot for the 25-lap feature and then he began to play the guessing game.

“I knew watching the (Last Chance Showdown) that there was no way it could sustain life on the top the whole race,” he said. “I just hoped it gave up quick enough and it did. I saw Steve (Kinser) driving across the track in the (Last Chance Showdown) and that’s my best line. We were just fortunate that it gave up just enough right at the right time.”

Rahmer, who rocketed into second place as polesitter Jason Sides took an early advantage in the feature, peaked late in the race. Midway through the event Rahmer fell to fourth place as Greg Hodnett began to work his way toward the front.

Hodnett passed Daryn Pittman and Rahmer to advance to the runner-up position on lap 13. Hodnett reeled in Sides through lapped traffic and slid for the lead in turn four on lap 19.

At that time Rahmer also found a groove and advanced to second on the ensuing lap. He then passed Hodnett for the top spot as the duo exited turn two on lap 21.

“I thought we were pretty decent,” Hodnett said. “I was floating around, not really running the bottom, not really running the top. I just kept doing what I was doing and I think it kind of took half rubber on the bottom of (turn) four. I just kept sliding by it and I was having to slow down too much to get to it.”

The only caution came on lap 22 as Sides appeared to have something break in the front of his car entering turn one while running fourth. He spun up the track and had to be towed to the pits.

Rahmer lined up on the inside for the double-file restart and checked out during the last four laps. Pittman slid Hodnett for second place in the final couple of laps.

“To be good enough to race with Fred and actually pass Hodnett back, those guys have been really good and we haven’t even been in their league,” Pittman said. “It’s fun to be competitive again.

“Every time I thought I had something figured out I’d change around and get better. The track really, really changed a lot as the race went on. That was fun driving it, so that had to have been fun to watch.”

For Hodnett, it was a disappointing end to a promising night in his return to a sprint car. It was Hodnett’s first race back since his father, Hoyette, passed away last Saturday.

“We want to come out with a win every night, but this one would have been pretty nice,” he said. “Obviously we’re going to try again tomorrow, but I really wanted to win this one and it just didn’t work out.”

Danny Dietrich, who claimed his first career World of Outlaws win on Thursday at Lincoln Speedway, finished fourth and Steve Kinser led the Outlaws with a fifth-place finish.

Stevie Smith was sixth, Don Kreitz Jr. placed seventh and Sammy Swindell earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after driving from 23^rd to eighth. He also reclaimed the World of Outlaws points lead, which has swapped each of the past seven races.

Craig Dollansky, who set quick time with a lap of 17.118 seconds, finished ninth and Lucas Wolfe rounded out the top 10.

Dietrich, Hodnett, Smith and Wolfe each claimed a heat race victory. Kinser won the Last Chance Showdown and Paul McMahan was victorious in the C Main.

The Outlaws return to Williams Grove on Saturday for a full night of racing that includes not only the 30-lap A-main, but also the Morgan Cup Challenge featuring PA Posse drivers against World of Outlaws drivers in a 12-lap dash.

Williams Grove Speedway Notebook

CONTINGENCY WINNERS - Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Brian Montieth; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Daryn Pittman; Armor All (case of product): Daryn Pittman; STP ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; UNOH ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; JE Pistons (set of rings): Kerry Madsen; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Superflow ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Alan Krimes; JE Pistons (set of rings): Jason Sides; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Kraig Kinser; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Donny Schatz.

WINNERS -

Posse 1, Outlaws 0: Dietrich Claims The Gettysburg Clash

Posse 1, Outlaws 0: Dietrich Claims The Gettysburg Clash

The Pennsylvanian collects his first career World of Outlaws victory at Lincoln

 

ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. – May 10, 2012 – The flash bulbs kept popping, the confetti kept falling and the celebration kept intensifying.

It wasn’t a normal Victory Lane. Then again, Danny Dietrich isn’t a normal winner and the World of Outlaws vs. Pennsylvania Posse rivalry isn’t a normal matchup.

Dietrich, a native Pennsylvanian whose 24^th birthday is a week and a half away, picked up his first career World of Outlaws victory on Thursday in The Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln Speedway.

“Words can’t express,” a beaming Dietrich said. “I’m ready to go drink a few beers.”

Dietrich was dominant in the first World of Outlaws event at the semi-banked, 3/8-mile oval since 1998. After starting seventh, he was up to fourth place within the first three laps. Following a caution on lap four for Alan Krimes, who spun in turn one, Dietrich took little time finding the lead.

He passed Danny Lasoski for third on the backstretch of lap four and then blew by polesitter Lance Dewease for the runner-up position on the ensuing lap. Dietrich edged Sam Hafetertepe Jr. for the lead as the duo cross the finish line on lap six and quickly checked out.

“When he drove around us on the outside I knew that there was nobody going to beat him tonight,” Hafertepe Jr. said. “That’s the most dominant car that’s been out here in a long time.”

Dietrich had to survive four cautions, including the final three for drivers who had trouble while running in the top 10. Lasoski slowed dramatically on the backstretch on lap 18 and Adam Wilt hit the wall in turn two on lap 24. The final caution came on the restart for fifth-running Doug Esh, who came to a stop in turn two after colliding with another driver.

Despite double-file restarts, Dietrich rocketed to the lead every time and never faced a stiff challenge once he found the top spot.

“All about knowing the track and getting the setup right,” he said. “I felt like we hit it perfect from the drop of the green and hopefully we can do that the rest of the weekend.

“This is pretty much a normal Saturday night for us. We’ve been fast. We just had to clear up a few issues. Luckily we put it all together tonight.”

It was the third win of the season for Dietrich, which comes as no surprise to Dewease.

“Danny deserves to win,” he said after finishing second. “He’s been the best race car in Central PA all year and definitely the best race car here all year.

“He started seventh so he must have been pretty good to get up through there that quick. I’m sure he got to the top before a lot of people did, but he can run anywhere at this race track.”

Hafertepe Jr. was third with Cory Haas charging from 17^th to finish fourth. Lucas Wolfe, who hails from nearby Mechanicsburg, was the top World of Outlaws driver as he placed fifth.

Kevin Nouse earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after maneuvering from 23^rd to sixth. Donny Schatz finished seventh and is the new World of Outlaws points leader. It marks the sixth consecutive race the top spot has changed.

Fred Rahmer drove from 22^nd to eighth, Daryn Pittman finished ninth and Gerard McIntyre rounded out the top 10.

Sammy Swindell, who entered the event with the World of Outlaws points lead, set quick time with a lap of 14.501 seconds. Wolfe, Chad Kemenah, McIntyre and Esh each claimed a heat race, with Bill Stine winning the C Main and Brad McClelland the Last Chance Showdown.

The World of Outlaws face the Posse at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg on Friday and Saturday.

“We’re strong,” Dietrich said of the Posse. “I think we’re always fast when the Outlaws come to town. Hopefully we can keep it up.”

The Gettysburg Clash Notebook

CONTINGENCY WINNERS - Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Brian Montieth; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Cory Haas; Armor All (case of product): Cory Haas; STP ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; UNOH ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Alan Krimes; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Gerard McIntyre; JE Pistons (set of rings): Alan Krimes; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Cody Darrah; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Stevie Smith; Superflow ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Brad McClelland; JE Pistons (set of rings): Craig Dollansky; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Kraig Kinser; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Brad McClelland.

Swindell Adds to Legendary Career at Knoxville Raceway

Swindell Adds to Legendary Career at Knoxville Raceway

He retakes Outlaws points lead, which is swapped for the seventh time this season

KNOXVILLE, Iowa – April 28, 2012 – Simply put, Sammy Swindell’s statistics at Knoxville Raceway are phenomenal.

Swindell claimed the first World of Outlaws feature at the famed half mile in 1979 and he picked up the lone event – not counting the Knoxville Nationals – last season. He’s a former Knoxville Nationals champion and is closing in on 50 career feature victories at the track.

“It’s a track where you’ve really got to carry the corner speed and your momentum, and really hit the marks just right,” he said. “The line gets so narrow on the bottom and the top running it that you have to be almost perfect. I think my experience and the amount of laps help make up for that.”

That was evident Saturday night as Swindell passed Brian Brown for the lead on lap 15 and cruised to his 15^th career World of Outlaws victory and 48^th overall at Knoxville Raceway.

The win was his third of the season and allowed Swindell to regain the points lead, which has been swapped seven times this season. Swindell holds a seven-point advantage over Donny Schatz as the top five are separated by a mere 58 points.

“I think we’ve had the car that could win the last few races,” Swindell said. “We had one at Haubstadt, but had a part break and still managed a third with a wounded car. If we keep this thing running, we’ve got a chance of winning every night.”

Swindell uncharacteristically qualified 16^th quickest, which gave him the final spot in the invert and the pole position for the fourth-and-final heat race. He led all eight laps to pick up his series-best fifth heat win of the season, which locked him into the dash.

Swindell started last – 10^th – and drove to seventh in the six-lap race, which aligned him on the inside of the fourth row for the 25-lap feature.

A trio of red flags within the first three laps stalled the race, but allowed Swindell to climb to fourth. He picked up third place on lap three and grabbed the runner-up position on lap five.

Chasing his first career World of Outlaws feature win, polesitter Brian Brown had driven to nearly a half-straightaway advantage when Swindell began to close the gap. As Brown battled through traffic on lap nine, Swindell edged closer.

With 11 laps remaining, Swindell rocketed off the bottom in turn four and passed Brown for the top spot at the finish line. Swindell then negotiated thick lapped traffic and a final caution with six laps remaining.

Brown, who started on the outside of Swindell on the double-file restart with six laps to go, entered turn one side by side only to lose ground as they exited the turn. Craig Dollansky passed Brown for the runner-up position on the backstretch.

“We sure would have liked to have been one spot better, but we definitely learned some things here tonight,” Dollansky said. “Sammy, he had a real good car. He’s been strong here the last couple of years.

“Second with this group of cars that were here tonight is nothing to shake a stick at.”

Joey Saldana slipped past Brown for the final podium spot with a couple laps remaining.

“It was a good, solid feature,” Saldana said. “I was a second-place car at best. We ran third and that’s about where we were. Sammy was definitely the class of the field.”

Brown finished fourth with nine-time Knoxville Raceway track champion and former World of Outlaws champion Danny Lasoski rounding out the top five with a last-lap pass on Schatz.

Knoxville regular Dusty Zomer charged from 21^st to seventh and Jason Sides earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after driving from 23 ^rd to eighth. Brad Sweet was ninth and Terry McCarl finished 10^th.

In his first career race at Knoxville Raceway, Trey Starks led all eight laps to claim his heat race. Ian Madsen, McCarl and Swindell were the other heat winners. Saldana set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 14.881 seconds and Don Droud Jr. claimed the Last Chance Showdown.

Knoxville Raceway Notebook

Schatz Slips through Melee in World of Outlaws Victory at Farmer City

Schatz Slips through Melee in World of Outlaws Victory at Farmer City

He regains the points lead as Swindell is caught in a crash that wipes out the top four

 

FARMER CITY, Ill. – April 25, 2012 – There were nearly a half-dozen drivers within striking distance of the lead eight laps into the World of Outlaws feature at Farmer City Raceway on Wednesday.

As the competitors banged wheels and narrowly negotiated lapped traffic, the packed stands took advantage of the first World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event at the high-banked, quarter-mile oval since 2003.

“When we got to lapped traffic the first go-around, there were four or five guys that could have got the lead at any point,” four-time Outlaws champion Donny Schatz said. “It was like a hornets nest. We needed to stay out of that situation and that we did. When the race restarted those guys were all beating and banging on each other around there, and I just stayed out of the way on the bottom and got through there.”

The excitement elevated a few levels on a restart following a caution on lap 13 when Shane Stewart and Cody Darrah collided in turn two. Polesitter Kerry Madsen, who led from the drop of the initial green flag, and runner-up Daryn Pittman spun in turn one in front of the field.

Sammy Swindell, who was running fourth, had nowhere to go and skidded into the duo as they slid toward the middle of the track. Third-running Craig Dollansky slid off the top of the track and nearly tipped over during the process to avoid the melee as cars were sideways trying to avoid the mess.

Schatz was there to capitalize. After restarting fifth and maneuvering through the mess, he inherited the lead. Schatz led the final 28 laps of the race to become the first three-time winner this season.

“On the start I got next to Dollansky and he got a good run off into the corner and I needed to slow down because I saw cars in front of us,” he said. “I just went to the bottom and was lucky enough to miss them.

“It doesn’t help to have guys fall out in front of you. We like earning these races. We’ve earned plenty of them, but we’ve had them go that way against us (as well). You had to be smart and stay out of the trouble, and that we did.”

The race was anything but over at that point. Brad Sweet, who went from sixth to second during that restart, stayed within a car length of Schatz for most of the race as the track slicked off with each completed lap.

“I’d like to try it over again,” Sweet said after a season-best second-place finish. “I don’t really know if I could have done anything different. I was just really trying to take care of my tires. It was really slick down in turns one and two. When I was coming off (turn) two I was just trying to take care of my tires and it was kind of on the cushion in (turns) three and four.

“Donny just never made a mistake. I was right there. If he would have made one little mistake or we got some traffic, I think we could have at least made a race out of it. I don’t know if we would have been able to beat him or not.”

Kraig Kinser charged from seventh to third. After losing a couple of positions in the opening laps, he took advantage of the wild restart.

“We were fortunate that we avoided some of the collisions there early in the race and got away with a pretty respectable finish I think,” Kinser said.

He moved to fifth after the restart on lap 13, passed Austen Wheatley for fourth place on lap 15 and eventually worked by Danny Lasoski for the podium finish on lap 23.

Lasoski placed fourth and Brady Bacon charged from 17^th to fifth. Joey Saldana was sixth and Steve Kinser drove from 22^nd to seventh to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award. Randy Hannagan advanced from 18^th to eighth and Chad Kemenah from 23^rd to ninth. Wheatley rounded out the top 10.

Madsen, Wheatley, Dollansky and Kraig Kinser each claimed heat race wins and Bacon won the Last Chance Showdown. Sweet turned the quickest lap in qualifying with a time of 10.609 seconds.

Schatz’s victory combined with Swindell’s low finish allowed the duo to swap the points lead. Schatz now leads by five points with Kraig Kinser third – 27 points back – and Saldana fourth – 40 points behind Schatz.

Farmer City Raceway Notebook

NOTES – This was the first midweek event of the season for the World of Outlaws. … Eight drivers made their World of Outlaws season debut. … The 36 cars tied the season high for car count.