Pittman charges to second place at UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit
BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Feb. 16, 2013 – Terry McCarl sure loves to celebrate.
Heck, he’d probably run down the frontstretch in his underwear like Ricky Bobby if given the time. The weather might have had something to do with it on Saturday night, when McCarl did his best in Victory Lane to pump up the nearly sold out crowd amid 25 mile per hour wind gusts and temperatures dipping into the 40s at Volusia Speedway Park.
McCarl even managed to plant one on World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series announcer Johnny Gibson to conclude the postrace interview after McCarl’s win at the 42nd annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment.
“Anyone who knows me knows when I win, I’m happy,” McCarl said. “The day I win and I’m not happy is the day I’m going to quit.
“When you win any feature it’s great. When you win an Outlaws show it’s even better and to win an event like this, there’s so many tough competitors, it’s even better.”
It snapped a winless streak dating back to July 17, 2009, for McCarl, whose last World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory came at Eldora Speedway during the Knight Before the Kings Royal.
Battling broken bones and building his own team since then, McCarl had only recorded four top-five finishes since that last win. On Saturday, it all went to plan.
McCarl won his heat race from the pole and fast qualifier Craig Dollansky pulled the No. 8 during the dash draw, putting McCarl on the pole for the six-lap dash that determines the starting lineup for the first five rows of the feature.
Steve Kinser, who started on the outside of the front row, got the jump and outlasted McCarl to win the dash. However, that gave Kinser the bottom line for the start of the feature and McCarl the top groove.
“Actually that was a Godsend,” McCarl said. “I think the top was a little better run on the start.”
McCarl cleared Kinser for the lead on the backstretch of the feature’s first lap, but he never held a comfortable lead. Once the leaders entered traffic on lap five, Kinser was within a couple of car lengths of the lead.
Meanwhile, defending World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz drove from eighth to fifth in the first two laps and was up to third by lap nine. McCarl, Kinser and Schatz battled within a handful of car lengths through traffic for several laps before the only caution took out the two strongest contenders to McCarl.
On lap 15, Kinser jumped the cushion in turn two. When he drove back down into the groove, he collided with Schatz. Kinser spun down the track and Schatz ended up stopping in turn three with damage to the front. Neither car was able to restart with Kinser finishing 21st and Schatz 22nd.
Daryn Pittman, who won the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series season opener on Friday, rocketed around Kraig Kinser in turns one and two on the restart for the runner-up position. The momentum allowed Pittman to pull next to McCarl, who had the preferred line around the cushion entering turn three.
McCarl pushed his lead to several car lengths until Pittman began to close in the final five laps. With two laps remaining Pittman was within striking distance and he finished less than two car lengths behind McCarl at the finish line.
“Our car just seemed like it was getting a little better and I think he was getting a little tighter,” Pittman said. “I would have liked to have had a shot at trying to slide him. I don’t know if I could have pulled it off or not. It just was really tricky. The curb was big and treacherous.”
Kraig Kinser finished third to record his first podium of the season.
“Definitely I feel really positive with the way our team is going,” he said.
Tim Shaffer placed fourth and Brad Sweet charged from 12th to fifth.
Jason Sides finished sixth, Dollansky was seventh and David Gravel earned the KSE Hard Charger Award for driving from 22nd to eighth. Brian Paulus ended ninth and 18th-starter Jac Haudenschild rounded out the top 10.
The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series wraps up its three-day event at the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented Summit on Sunday. The front gate opens at 5 p.m. with hot laps around 6 p.m. and Opening Ceremonies at 7:20 p.m.
UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment Notebook
NOTES – Bill Rose was transported to a hospital with an arm injury sustained when the left rear tire on his car came apart on the final lap of his heat race. Rose confirmed via text message that his left arm is broken and he will undergo surgery on Sunday. He said there is no timetable for his return. … Craig Dollansky established quick time in qualifying for the first time this season. … Terry McCarl, Paul McMahan, Donny Schatz and Jason Sides each claimed their first heat race win of the year. … The dash draw was an eight. … Steve Kinser won his first dash of the season. … Kerry Madsen earned his first Last Chance Showdown victory of the year. … Danny Smith, who drove his own car through the heat races, piloted Rose’s car in the Last Chance Showdown and feature.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS – Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Bill Rose; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Terry McCarl; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Terry McCarl; STP ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($50 cash and $200 certificate): Kraig Kinser; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Jason Sides; UNOH ($50 cash): Jason Sides; American Racing Custom Wheels ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): David Gravel; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($200 certificate): Kerry Madsen; Superflow ($50 cash): Brooke Tatnell; JE Pistons (set of rings): Chad Kemenah; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Greg Wilson; JE Pistons (set of rings): Bill Rose; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($200 certificate): Bill Rose; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Bill Rose; Armor All (case of product): Terry McCarl; KSE Racing Products ($100 certificate): David Gravel.
WINNERS – Terry McCarl – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 16) and Daryn Pittman – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15).
TIME TRIALS – Craig Dollansky was the fastest qualifier around the half-mile oval with a time of 13.142 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Paul McMahan (4 points), Danny Holtgraver (3), Sammy Swindell (2) and Daryn Pittman (1).
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UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment Statistical Report; Volusia Speedway Park; Barberville, Fla.; Feb. 16, 2013
A-Main – (30 Laps) – 1. 24-Terry McCarl [2] [$10,000]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [11] [$5,500]; 3. 11K-Kraig Kinser [4] [$3,200]; 4. 83-Tim Shaffer [3] [$2,800]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [12] [$2,500]; 6. 7S-Jason Sides [7] [$2,300]; 7. 7-Craig Dollansky [5] [$2,200]; 8. 89G-David Gravel [22] [$2,100]; 9. 28-Brian Paulus [13] [$2,050]; 10. 59-Jac Haudenschild [18] [$2,000]; 11. 51-Paul McMahan [9] [$1,500]; 12. 1-Sammy Swindell [6] [$1,200]; 13. 29-Kerry Madsen [21] [$1,100]; 14. 19-Brooke Tatnell [19] [$1,050]; 15. 71M-Joey Saldana [24] [$1,000]; 16. H07-Justin Henderson [16] [$900]; 17. W20-Greg Wilson [14] [$800]; 18. 4-Cody Darrah [17] [$800]; 19. 13-Jason Leffler [15] [$800]; 20. 63-Chad Kemenah [26] [$]; 21. 11-Steve Kinser [1] [$800]; 22. 15-Donny Schatz [8] [$800]; 23. 45-Danny Holtgraver [10] [$800]; 24. 1S-Logan Schuchart [23] [$800]; 25. 1Z-Danny Lasoski [20] [$800]; 26. 6-Bill Rose [25] [$]. Lap Leaders: Terry McCarl 1-30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 89G-David Gravel [+14].
Qualifying – 1. 7-Craig Dollansky, 13.142; 2. 51-Paul McMahan, 13.151; 3. 45-Danny Holtgraver, 13.179; 4. 1-Sammy Swindell, 13.193; 5. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.225; 6. 2-Dale Blaney, 13.243; 7. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.256; 8. 28-Brian Paulus, 13.311; 9. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.313; 10. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.319; 11. 83-Tim Shaffer, 13.321; 12. 11-Steve Kinser, 13.344; 13. 24-Terry McCarl, 13.364; 14. 13-Jason Leffler, 13.371; 15. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.410; 16. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.417; 17. 63-Chad Kemenah, 13.428; 18. H07-Justin Henderson, 13.466; 19. 4-Cody Darrah, 13.478; 20. 59-Jac Haudenschild, 13.481; 21. 6-Bill Rose, 13.503; 22. 10-Dave Blaney, 13.512; 23. 14-Fred Rahmer, 13.515; 24. 19-Brooke Tatnell, 13.537; 25. O-Glenn Styres, 13.539; 26. 1Z-Danny Lasoski, 13.548; 27. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 13.551; 28. 29-Kerry Madsen, 13.566; 29. 89G-David Gravel, 13.572; 30. 54-Cap Henry, 13.589; 31. 27-Lance Dewease, 13.617; 32. 4S-Danny Smith, 13.631; 33. 48-Danny Dietrich, 13.640; 34. O7-Mark Coldren, 13.648; 35. 80-Trey Gustin, 13.685; 36. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.690; 37. 71M-Joey Saldana, 13.751; 38. 9B-Jayme Barnes, 13.949; 39. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, No Time.
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 24-Terry McCarl [1]; 2. 7-Craig Dollansky [4]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [3]; 4. W20-Greg Wilson [2]; 5. 89G-David Gravel [8]; 6. 71M-Joey Saldana [10]; 7. O-Glenn Styres [7]; 8. 6-Bill Rose [6]; 9. 63-Chad Kemenah [5].
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 51-Paul McMahan [4]; 2. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2]; 3. H07-Justin Henderson [5]; 4. 13-Jason Leffler [1]; 5. 1Z-Danny Lasoski [7]; 6. 54-Cap Henry [8]; 7. O7-Mark Coldren [9]; 8. 2-Dale Blaney [3]; 9. 9B-Jayme Barnes [10]; 10. 10-Dave Blaney [6].
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 2. 83-Tim Shaffer [2]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [3]; 4. 45-Danny Holtgraver [4]; 5. 4-Cody Darrah [5]; 6. 14-Fred Rahmer [6]; 7. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [7]; 8. 27-Lance Dewease [8]; 9. 80-Trey Gustin [9].
Heat 4 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 7S-Jason Sides [1]; 2. 11-Steve Kinser [2]; 3. 59-Jac Haudenschild [5]; 4. 1-Sammy Swindell [4]; 5. 28-Brian Paulus [3]; 6. 29-Kerry Madsen [7]; 7. 19-Brooke Tatnell [6]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [9]; 9. 4S-Danny Smith [8].
Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature) – 1. 11-Steve Kinser [2]; 2. 24-Terry McCarl [1]; 3. 83-Tim Shaffer [3]; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser [4]; 5. 7-Craig Dollansky [8]; 6. 1-Sammy Swindell [5]; 7. 7S-Jason Sides [10]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [9]; 9. 51-Paul McMahan [7]; 10. 45-Danny Holtgraver [6].
B-Main – (12 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 29-Kerry Madsen [7] [-]; 2. 19-Brooke Tatnell [4] [-]; 3. 71M-Joey Saldana [14] [-]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [13] [-]; 5. 27-Lance Dewease [9] [$200]; 6. O-Glenn Styres [5] [$180]; 7. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [6] [$175]; 8. 80-Trey Gustin [12] [$160]; 9. 54-Cap Henry [8] [$150]; 10. O7-Mark Coldren [11] [$150]; 11. 6-Bill Rose [17] [$150]; 12. 14-Fred Rahmer [3] [$150]; 13. 63-Chad Kemenah [1] [$150]; 14. 10-Dave Blaney [2] [$150]; 15. 9B-Jayme Barnes [15] [$150]; 16. 2-Dale Blaney [16] [$150]; 17. 48-Danny Dietrich [18] [$150]; 18. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr [19] [$150]; 19. 4S-Danny Smith [10] [$150].
*Danny Smith drove Bill Rose’s car in the B-Main and A-Main.