Series | Karnac Racing News

Another Dominate Night for Schatz as he wins at Monster Meltdown

Schatz scores his 18th win of the season and fourth in a row during night one of the Monster Meltdown at Skagit Speedway

082914_Skagit1_VL ALGER, Wash. – Aug. 29, 2014 – With another dominate performance during night one of the Monster Meltdown at Skagit Speedway on Friday night, Donny Schatz continued a podium streak that began on July 19 and World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win streak that now stretches four races.

Schatz, who won 23 races last season with his STP/Armor All team, is proving especially formidable this season as his 18th win of the season extended his championship points lead over second place Daryn Pittman to 197.

“It always feels good to win,” Schatz said. “Especially out here at a place we’ve not been so swell. Hats off to the whole STP team – these guys should be up here (on the podium). They’re doing a phenomenal job. They give me a racecar every night that’s capable of winning and it’s done that. It’s an awful fun position to be in.”

Luck was on Schatz’s side throughout the night. The dash inversion draw put him on the outside pole for the dash and ultimately helped him to the same starting position in the A main. Then, during the feature, Schatz had trouble just before an open red flag. (more…)

By Scott|2014-09-03T13:49:49-04:00September 3rd, 2014|Featured, Front Page News, Race Results, Sprint Cars|Comments Off

Lanigan Continues Lernerville Success With World of Outlaws Late Model Series Working Man 50 Victory

Firecracker 100 Winner Tops Early Battle with Marlar, Pulls Away From Eckert for 14th WoO LMS Victory of the Season

LaniganWins650 SARVER, Pa. – Aug. 29, 2014 – Series points leader Darrell Lanigan picked up right where he left off at Lernerville Speedway, earning his 14th World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory of the season Friday night when the national tour returned to the western Pennsylvania track for the first time since Lanigan’s $30,000 Firecracker 100 victory in June.

Lanigan, 44, of Union, Ky., swept the program at Lernerville’s inaugural Working Man 50 on Friday, earning $10,650 as he closed to within one victory of matching his WoO LMS record 15-win season of 2012. The triumph also marked the third win in four WoO LMS A-Mains at Lernerville this season for Lanigan, who claimed one of two preliminary races during the Firecracker 100 weekend to go along with his victory in the event’s blockbuster finale.

Lanigan started the evening by earning fast time honors and later won his heat race and drew the pole for 50-lap feature. However, his A-Main victory was far from easy, as outside polesitter Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., tried his best to spoil Lanigan’s party. (more…)

By Scott|2014-09-03T13:46:07-04:00September 3rd, 2014|Featured, Front Page News, Late Models, Race Results|Comments Off

Bloomquist Blisters Field in First Ever Visit to Attica Raceway Park

2014results_8-29 ATTICA, OH (August 29, 2014) – Making his first ever visit to Attica Raceway Park, Scott Bloomquist survived a two-lap dash to the finish for his fifth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season. Bloomquist led all 50-laps in his Ole Smoky Moonshine, Lucas Oil Products sponsored Sweet-Bloomquist entry. Bloomquist earned his 51st career LOLMDS victory out dueling Steve Francis, Earl Pearson Jr., Jimmy Owens, and Mason Zeigler to round out the top five.

“This is our first time here; everyone knows our winning percentage at new tracks in my career is pretty good. This is really a nice track. I hoped the fans enjoyed this show,” said the 50-year-old veteran. “The front-stretch had some issues early in the night, but they went out and tried to fix it. I thought I felt a vibration or something going wrong on that last restart. We sure didn’t need that final caution. The car fired great nonetheless and we were able to pull away.”

“We are a little short of help this weekend, but everybody did a great job. I had to groove the tires and do some other things, but overall the car handled so well all night long. We have been so close to winning other races this year; I was determined to win this tonight. I have to thank Ole Smoky Moonshine, Penske Shocks, Hawkeye Trucking, Base Fuels, Lucas Oil Products, and Durham Race Engines.” (more…)

By Scott|2014-09-03T13:41:23-04:00September 3rd, 2014|Featured, Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Race Results|Comments Off

World of Outlaws Legend Sammy Swindell Announces Retirement

Three-time champ was one of series’ original racers

082514_SwindellRetires CONCORD, N.C. – Aug. 25, 2014 – The numbers and statistics are only a measure of the legend, but Sammy Swindell will be remembered as one of the greatest drivers in World of Outlaws history.

Swindell, who on Monday announced his retirement from full-time racing effective immediately, is a three-time World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series champion who achieved 294 victories. The Memphis, Tenn., area native was one of the original Outlaws who helped grow the series from its 1978 origins at Devil’s Bowl Speedway into the premier sanctioning body it is today.

A calculating driver on the track, Swindell also is highly respected for his skills in building and setting up his cars, dedicating his life to perfecting the science of racing.

“Sammy’s talent is more than a driver, he is an innovator,” World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Director Carlton Reimers said. “He was one of the ‘Big 3’ along with Steve Kinser and Doug Wolfgang in the early days, and he persevered through the years. He was a threat to win every night. I hope he and Kevin find all the success they want.” (more…)

By Scott|2014-08-26T15:51:18-04:00August 26th, 2014|Featured, Front Page News, Racing News, Sprint Cars|Comments Off

Schatz Sweeps Canada with Oil City Cup Win

He is the first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series driver to sweep all five Canada events in a single season

082314_CASTROLNight2_VL NISKU, ALBERTA – Aug. 23, 2014 – Saturday night, Donny Schatz did what no other World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series driver before him has ever done – with his win on the second night of the Oil City Cup at Castrol Raceway he became the first driver to sweep all five Canada events in a single season.

“I love Canada!” Schatz said. “We’ve always had great races when we’ve come up here and always enjoyed it.”

“(The Oil City Cup win is) not just for me, it’s for this whole STP race team. These guys are unbelievable and they definitely do their job to the best of their abilities. Hats off to them. Without their hard work and dedication and what they do, there’s no way I’d be standing here.”

Schatz, who started the feature in fifth, charged forward through a caution plagued first seven laps and battled polesitter Daryn Pittman for the lead.

“My racecar was really good,” said Schatz, who now has 17 wins on the season and a three-race win streak. “I had to move around and be in lanes that other people weren’t. It’s fun to be in that position. I was disappointed obviously that we saw the yellow come back out but that’s all part of racing. You deal with it. You have to find a way to overcome that and get yourself back up there. It was a fun race.” (more…)

By Scott|2014-08-26T15:49:29-04:00August 26th, 2014|Featured, Front Page News, Race Results, Sprint Cars|Comments Off

Darrell Lanigan Outduels Brady Smith at Saturday’s NAPA Merritt 50, Earning His 13th World of Outlaws Late Model Series Victory of 2014

Series Points Leader Pulls Away Late to Earn $10,650 for His First Merritt Speedway Victory

IMG_4255E LAKE CITY, Mich. – Aug. 23, 2014 – Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., topped a back-and-forth battle with Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., midway through Saturday’sNAPA Merritt 50 A-Main at Merritt Speedway and pulled away in the closing laps to earn his 13th World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory of the season.

The 44-year-old Lanigan, a two-time series champion and current points leader, earned $10,650 for his series-leading 66th career WoO LMS victory and his first triumph at Merritt’s 3/8-mile oval.

“We went a little different (on tire selection) and I knew we would be better on the long run,” said Lanigan, who moved within two victories of his record 15-win mark set in 2012. “I was just biding my time and once my stuff came in it was like a rocket ship.”

Smith settled for second, fading to 4.925 seconds behind Lanigan at the finish, while home-track driver Dona Marcoullier of Haughton Lake, Mich., made a late charge to finish third. Former WoO LMS champion Rick Eckert or York, Pa., was fourth with Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., who led the first four laps from the outside pole, rounding out the top five in a race slowed by four cautions. (more…)

By Scott|2014-08-26T15:47:21-04:00August 26th, 2014|Featured, Front Page News, Late Models, Race Results|Comments Off

A Dominate Night at Castrol Raceway Gives Donny Schatz His 16th Win of the Season

Schatz extends his points lead over second place Daryn Pittman to 169

82214_CASTROL_VL NISKU, ALBERTA – Aug. 22, 2014 – Donny Schatz is on a roll. Since July 19 he has finished no worse than third, giving him 13 straight podium finishes, and he has World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series wins in seven of the last ten races, including Friday night’s dominate performance on night one of the Oil City Cup at Castrol Raceway.

Schatz started the feature in third in his STP/Armor All car and powered to the lead before the field made it around the 3/8-mile oval for the first time.

“We had a very good car at the beginning and we were able to stick to the bottom and get by those guys,” Schatz said.

On lap five, Schatz’s three second lead was erased by a caution. The caution flag flew again on lap seven and lap 20, erasing sizable leads for Schatz each time.

“You just have to take what you get. We’re never a fan of cautions but it happens,” Schatz said. “The only thing it does is it lets the tires cool down and you always wonder if they’re going to reheat, if the car is going to feel the same. There are a lot of factors – what do I do next?” (more…)

By Scott|2014-08-26T15:44:04-04:00August 26th, 2014|Featured, Front Page News, Race Results, Sprint Cars|Comments Off

Curtis Roberts Enjoys Dream Night at I-96 Speedway, Scores First World of Outlaws Late Model Series Victory

Michigan Driver Thrills Home-State Crowd in Claiming the NAPA Lake Odessa 50 Presented by Keyser

IMG_3970E_650 copy LAKE ODESSA, Mich. – Aug. 22, 2014 – Curtis Roberts lived his dream Friday night at I-96 Speedway.

A regional racer for more than 20 years, Roberts, 47, of Coleman, Mich., took the lead when Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., suffered a flat right-rear tire on lap 42 of the NAPA Lake Odessa 50 Presented by Keyser A-Main and held off a furious charge by Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., through the race’s finale eight laps to claim his first career World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory.

Roberts earned and career-high $10,550 for his breakthrough victory and thrilled a large crowd of his home-state fans as the 3/8-mile oval hosted the national tour first time since 2007.

“I’ve been racing a lot of years and this is definitely my biggest win,” said Roberts, who became the fourth first-time winner on the WoO LMS this season. “To come in here and beat these guys – the best drivers in the country – it’s a dream come true. This is really just unbelievable.” (more…)

By Scott|2014-08-26T15:39:59-04:00August 26th, 2014|Featured, Front Page News, Late Models, Race Results|Comments Off

Don O’Neal Wins Whiskey City 50 at Lawrenceburg Speedway

LAWRENCEBURG, IN (August 23, 2014) – Don O’Neal returned to his home-state of Indiana on Saturday Night and won the Whiskey City 50 at Lawrenceburg Speedway. It was O’Neal’s sixth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season, and is continues to close the gap on current point leader, Jimmy Owens, who came home sixth.

O’Neal grabbed the lead on lap four from his Clint Bowyer Racing teammate, Steve Francis, and charged to his 39th career LOLMDS victory. Francis finished second followed by pole-sitter, Scott Bloomquist. Steve Casebolt drove by Earl Pearson Jr. on the final lap to take fourth, as Pearson Jr. would round out the top five.

“The car was on a rail tonight, no doubt,” said O’Neal. “I have to thank Lance and Barry Wright, Jeremy Justice, and Tony Trent for all of the hard work they do. Clint’s going to be real happy with this one-two finish here tonight.”

“We started fifth and the bottom was working real well there early on. I had a few moments there in traffic, but everybody gave each other plenty of room. It’s good to come back here and win, especially after missing last year’s race. I didn’t know how far Steve (Francis) was behind me, I was just concentrating on the traffic ahead.” (more…)

By Scott|2014-08-26T14:20:50-04:00August 26th, 2014|Featured, Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Race Results|Comments Off

Steve Dorer Survives Rain Delay; Leads All 100 Laps At Anderson Speedway For First JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Win

10dorervltrophyanderson72614 Anderson, Indiana (Saturday, July 26, 2014): The fast 1/4 (0.250) mile high-banked paved oval of Anderson Speedway (IN) in Anderson, Indiana was the site for the Edgewater Woods 100 Presented by JEGS.com. The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance highlighted the night as the teams who made the trip to Central Indiana were looking to stop the unprecedented win streak laid out by Trent Snyder. In the three previous races, Snyder had swept all three and was going for an unprecedented fourth in a row in four years of the Tour racing at Anderson.

When all was said and done at the end of the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tours’ 50th all-time event and at the end of 100 laps, Lakeland, Florida veteran, Steve Dorer not only stopped Snyder’s impressive track winning streak at three, but he would also score his first career JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour victory. The pilot of the #10 Racecar Engineering / FLF Racecars / Chevrolet survived a 90 minute rain delay as well as several challenges throughout the course of the race to go the distance in leading all 100 laps for the victory.

“It’s about time. Wow! I can’t believe this. We’ve had so many second and third place runs over the past couple of seasons I was wondering when I’d ever get back here,” The emotional 44-year-old stated in victory lane. “We’ve been coming back home (Coldwater, Michigan) during the summer for a few years now and running when we could as much as we could before going back to Florida in the fall each year. It’s been awhile since we’ve got a win up north. It was here in the Redbud (2011). This feels really good.” He added. (more…)

By Scott|2014-07-28T12:29:50-04:00July 28th, 2014|CRA Racing Series, Featured, Front Page News, Race Results|Comments Off