The NASCAR driver earns his first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of season

STOCKTON, Calif. – March 22, 2013 – Not too bad for a part-timer.
After hitching a ride in NASCAR star Tony Stewart’s plane, Kyle Larson, the newest NASCAR sensation, picked up his first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory of the season on Friday in front of a sold-out crowd during the inaugural event at Stockton 99 Dirt Track.

“I’ve got to start off by thanking Tony for letting my fly on his jet here to the races,” he said. “Without him, I wouldn’t be here.”

The win was Larson’s third in as many seasons as he heads back to Fontana, Calif., for Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event in Southern California.

With estimates of more than 10,000 spectators at Friday’s World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event, a pair of California stars duked it out after outlasting the attrition. There were nearly a dozen flips on the new 3/8-mile track that was built inside the old horse racing track at the San Joaquin Fairgrounds. (more…)

The third visit in as many years to the tight, third-mile oval is set for Friday, March 29

MERCED, Calif. – March 20, 2013 – When it’s called a bullring, people aren’t kidding.

Merced Speedway is a tight, semi-banked track that was widened to a third mile last year. It’s a place where there are always cars to pass, whether a driver starts on the pole or mid-pack. And when there are two dozen screaming World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series drivers banging wheels, it’s quite the show.

The premier sprint car series is set to compete at Merced Speedway for the only time this season on Friday, March 29. It marks the third straight year with a visit to the track.

“It’s a tough place to pass; track position means a lot,” Cody Darrah said. “It puts on a pretty good show because when the feature starts, the leaders come up on the tail within a lap or two. It’s an exciting race track to go to with the fans and the atmosphere of it.”

Sammy Swindell has claimed the two previous features. Jason Sides placed third in both main events, and Jason Meyers and Steve Kinser are the only other drivers to record a top 10 in each race.

“It’s definitely a tough, little race track,” Joey Saldana said. “It’s definitely a track where position means a lot.” (more…)

He picks up his second straight World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win at third mile

TULARE, Calif. – March 15, 2013 – It wasn’t the typical place a race fan would imagine Tim Kaeding was headed after yet another victory.
Visibly exhausted and likely sore, Kaeding mustered a smile and laugh when describing his postrace celebration plans after ending his Victory Lane celebration surrounded by a packed grandstand of his biggest supporters on Friday night at Thunderbowl Raceway.

“Sit in an ice cold bath,” he said.

It was an elbows-up type of night during the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series opener at the high-banked, third-mile oval, which featured more cars on two wheels than a typical motorcycle race.

That fit right into Kaeding’s style and background, even if the track known to be rough was the roughest ever. (more…)

The quarter-mile track hosts the Mini Gold Cup on Saturday, March 23

CHICO, Calif. – March 13, 2013 – Silver Dollar Speedway is a demanding race track. It takes precision, skill, experience and sometimes, cojones.
The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series will kick off the second half of its spring swing throughout the West at the high-banked, quarter mile on Saturday, March 23, for the Mini Gold Cup.

“Chico is a pretty challenging place,” Chad Kemenah said. “You never know what you’re going to get. I don’t think you ever go there two days in a row and see the same thing. That place there, you leave there in a good mood or you leave there just mad at the world.” (more…)

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series debuts at the 3/8 mile on Friday, March 22

STOCKTON, Calif. – March 13, 2013 – There aren’t many better ways to break in a new track than to host the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series.
That’s exactly what Stockton 99 Dirt Track is doing on Friday, March 22, when the premier sprint car series in the country will welcome another track to the California fraternity.

“As long as we can get more race tracks in California I think that’s great,” Jason Sides said. “It’ll be good to go there and see what it’s all about. I hear it’s a big track so another big track in California like Calistoga, that’d be great.”

Stockton 99 Speedway, which is located on the San Joaquin Fairgrounds, recently added the big 3/8-mile dirt track to the impressive facility. Stockton 99 Dirt Track was built in the infield of the old horse racing track at the fairgrounds and it joins a quarter-mile paved track, a karting track and a drifting track on the property. (more…)

TUCSON, Ariz. – March 9, 2013 – You don’t need to be a teacher to give Daryn Pittman a grade at the head of the class.
Heck, he gives himself an A+ so far this season with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series and rightfully so.

Pittman, who won the season opener after accepting an offer to drive for NASCAR star Kasey Kahne during the offseason, became the first repeat winner of the season on Saturday in front of a near capacity crowd at Tucson International Raceway during the Wildcat Shootout Presented by NAPA Auto Parts.

“It’s been an A+ for sure,” he said. “I think all of us are really disappointed in our first night at (Las) Vegas. That was our first humbling experience as a team, but nobody was down. We got messages all night from each other, just stay positive and come back the next day. And we rebounded with a solid night at Vegas the second night.

“This is a tough sport and a grueling year that we know can turn around in a hurry. So we’ve just got to stay focused, go into the next race and try to win.” (more…)

Larson battles fuel issues, mistakes and defending series champion en route to podium

LAS VEGAS – March 6, 2013 – If the rest of the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series races this season are anything like Wednesday night, fans across the country are in for a treat.

Fighting extreme gusts of wind all night, defending series champion Donny Schatz outlasted future NASCAR star Kyle Larson to garner the opening night at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas. The win was Schatz’s series-leading seventh at the half mile and more significantly, it was his 125^th career World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series feature victory.

“I think it’s more important to be win No. 1 on the season,” he said after becoming only the fourth driver to ever reach the 125-win milestone. “It’s always hardest to get the first win of the season out of the way.”

Schatz started on the pole of the dash after the No. 8 pill – the highest possible – was randomly selected for the third consecutive race to invert the first four rows. However, he was passed by Jason Sides in the closing laps of the dash, giving Sides the pole position for the 30-lap feature.

That didn’t last for long as Schatz rocketed around the high groove to take the lead exiting turn four on the opening lap. He maintained a several car length advantage as Brian Brown battled Sides for the runner-up position during the first eight laps before entering traffic. (more…)

Tucson International Raceway hosts Wildcat Shootout Presented by NAPA on March 9

TUCSON, Ariz. – Feb. 26, 2013 – Life is good for Daryn Pittman.
He’s back on the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series – piloting a car for NASCAR star Kasey Kahne – and after the first weekend of competition this season, Pittman is at the top of his game.

After claiming the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment title with a win and a trio of top fives in three Florida races, Pittman is atop the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series standings. And he’s headed to a track where he hasn’t finished outside the top six. (more…)