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Schatz Blisters Stellar Field at Volusia Speedway Park
by Bryan Autullo
The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions rolled into Volusia Speedway Park with 52 cars to kick of the 37^th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals. With a field second only to the Knoxville Nationals, the All Stars had their work cut out for them to try to grab a piece of the pie and the $7000 winner’s share. The best of the World of Outlaws and the PA Posse came to compete with the All Stars with a large crowd on hand on a warm Florida evening.
Daryn Pittman set the Kistler Engines Quick Time, laying down a new track record of 12.951 on the super-fast half mile. The margin between quick time and 47^th place was less than one second, which goes to show you how important it is to rip off a perfect qualifying run each and every time.
Heat race action was fast and fierce with wins going to Wayne Johnson, Lucas Wolfe, Greg Hodnett, and Brian Ellenberger. Craig Mintz lost a left front wheel in his heat and was clobbered by John Westbrook as he sat helpless at the bottom of turn three. Westbrook had no place to go and Mintz suffered a vicious hit causing a minor knee injury and major damage to the 09 car.
The C-main was packed with talent as would be expected with such a stellar field of cars. Tim Kaeding won with Shane Stewart close behind. Paul McMahan was third with Eric Baldaccini taking the final transfer spot.
The B-main looked like an A-main with all the good cars lining up to try to make it into the feature event, but only four drivers would be so lucky. Danny Lasoski took the checkers followed by Jeff Shepard, Tony Bruce Jr., and Jac Haudenschild. Several great drivers were reduced to spectators for the A-main event.
The redraw of the Top 6 spots by the young fans on the front stretch put Donny Schatz on the pole and Jason Meyers to his outside. Steve Kinser would line up behind Schatz and Lance Dewease took the outside of row two. Daryn Pittman and Craig Dollanksy made up row three.
At the drop of the green, Meyers took the early lead and held the point for several laps over Schatz. When the two hit lapped traffic, Schatz was finding the high side to his liking and overtook Meyers on lap 15. Schatz then set sail picking off back markers one by one as Meyers kept him within his sight. Steve Kinser was busy holding off Daryn Pittman. Meyers got one last good run on Schatz on lap 22, but Schatz would pull away again. Lance Dewease got by Pittman with five laps to go as Schatz went on to win. Meyers crossed the line second with Kinser, Dewease, and Pittman rounding out the Top 5.
"It was a good night,” said Schatz from the Alltel victory lane. “Our first night out in the car and we won. I look forward to calling Tony (Stewart) to tell him how we did tonight. The team worked hard and we were in a good spot tonight. We came out here tonight to try a few things and to learn a few things. We will try some more stuff tomorrow and the next night. We have a couple days to keep getting better."
The O’Reilly All Stars will be back in action on Wednesday February 6^th at Volusia Speedway Park.. Reserved seat tickets for each night of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals can be purchased online at www.VolusiaSpeedwayPark.com . The Pit Gates will open at 2 p.m. EST, with Grandstand gates set to open at 4 p.m. EST and Hot Laps are tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. EST.
Fans unable to attend the spectacular week at Volusia can still catch all the action on the DIRTVision Cybercast. For just $29.99 fans can purchase the ‘Alltel DIRTcar Nationals Racepass’ and watch live streaming video of all 12 nights of racing action. Log on to www.dirtvision.com for more information.
Volusia Speedway Park is located just 15 miles west of Ormond Beach, Florida. From I-95, take exit 88 West on State Rd. 40. From Highway 17, take State Rd 40, 5 miles east of Barberville, Florida.
The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions rolled into Volusia Speedway Park with 52 cars to kick of the 37^th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals. With a field second only to the Knoxville Nationals, the All Stars had their work cut out for them to try to grab a piece of the pie and the $7000 winner’s share. The best of the World of Outlaws and the PA Posse came to compete with the All Stars with a large crowd on hand on a warm Florida evening.
