Seven official lead changes highlight the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event
HANFORD, Calif. – April 12, 2013 – Wearing an ear-to-ear grin, Chad Kemenah hopped out of his car and went in for the hug on Donny Schatz.
Keep in mind, Kemenah had just finished second to Schatz in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series return to Kings Speedway on Friday night.
“That’s just what happens when you get a race track to race on wide enough,” Kemenah said. “These fans come out and just get a hell of a show. That was a lot of passing.
“I just want to thank all the fans for coming out here and Donny for such a good race. They got their money’s worth and we’re excited.”
Schatz was a bit more subdued in celebrating his first career victory at the 3/8-mile track, which has featured a different winner in each of the last seven World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series main events.
“It was fun to have a good enough car to go around the race track in perfect condition to be able to go on the top and the bottom all the way around the whole track,” Schatz said. “It was fun, but it was definitely not an easy win.”
Despite nine cautions that kept the leader out of traffic, the race showcased seven official lead changes and possibly twice as many actual ones. Schatz and polesitter Tim Kaeding swapped the lead five times in the first 10 laps before a flat right rear tire derailed Kaeding around the midpoint of the 35-lap feature.
But as Kaeding faded before eventually spinning off the track in turn two on Lap 20, Kemenah picked up the heat on Schatz and rocketed to the top spot exiting turn two on Lap 17. He held onto the lead until Schatz powered around him in turn two on Lap 22.
“You knew the track was going to change drastically and it was pretty slick when we started,” Schatz said. “We were able to maneuver on both ends.”
Kemenah stayed within striking distance as they hit traffic on Lap 28, but the ninth – and final – caution flag was waved one lap later as D.J. Netto collided with fourth-place running David Gravel in turn two. The crash popped Gravel’s left rear tire and forced him to pit. He returned to the race, but finished 12th.
Schatz got a clean restart and maintained the lead in the closing laps with Kemenah and third-running Sammy Swindell in tow.
“It was a fun race to watch,” Swindell said. “We weren’t any better than they were. It might have been different if I could have ever got to the front, but I don’t think we were strong enough to quite get there. It was fun to watch and be able to participate in it.”
Championship points leader Daryn Pittman, who dropped from 13th to last place after spinning on the opening lap, placed fourth to collect his series-leading ninth top five. Kraig Kinser drove from 12th to finish fifth.
Joey Saldana ended sixth, Craig Dollansky seventh, Paul McMahan eighth and Kyle Hirst charged from 20th to ninth to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award. Steve Kinser rounded out the top 10.
After driving from the back up to eighth following his caution, Kaeding slid off the track on the final lap and was credited with a 13th-place finish.
Kings Speedway Notebook
NOTES – This was the first race this season with fewer than 30 cars. … Chad Kemenah established quick time in qualifying for the first race this season. … Sammy Swindell claimed his third heat race win, Joey Saldana his second and Tim Kaeding his series-leading sixth of the season. … The dash draw was a six. … Kaeding became the 12th different dash winner of the season. … Brian Brown became the 12th different Last Chance Showdown winner of the year.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS – Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): David Gravel; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Donny Schatz; STP ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($50 cash and $200 certificate): Sammy Swindell; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; UNOH ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; American Racing Custom Wheels ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): David Gravel; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($200 certificate): Jason Sides; Superflow ($50 cash): Jason Sides; JE Pistons (set of rings): Cory Eliason; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Cory Eliason; JE Pistons (set of rings): D.J. Netto; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($200 certificate): Wayne Johnson; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Wayne Johnson; Armor All (case of product): Tim Kaeding; KSE Racing Products ($100 certificate): Kyle Hirst.
WINNERS – Tim Kaeding – 2 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 15 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 7); Daryn Pittman – 2 (Tucson International Raceway on March 9 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15); Donny Schatz – 2 (Kings Speedway on April 12 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 6); Craig Dollansky – 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16); Shane Golobic – 1 (Antioch Speedway on April 5); Kyle Larson – 1 (Stockton 99 Dirt Track on March 22); Danny Lasoski – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 17); Paul McMahan – 1 (Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23); Terry McCarl – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 16) and Sammy Swindell – 1 (Merced Speedway on March 29).